"For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology"

FIRST, “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology”, is a non-profit organization with the goal of generating interest in science and engineering in young people from elementary through high school. The high-school level FIRST Robotics Competition, also known as “FRC”, accomplishes these goals in a special way by enabling the collaboration of professional engineers and business people with high-school aged young people to accomplish robotic game tasks. Not only does FIRST support science, it also hopes to create better people by teaching its creed of gracious professionalism. For instance, although the high school FIRST Robotics Competition is about creating an innovative robot, it also calls for helping other teams as much as possible. All of the FIRST Robotics teams are there for each other, whether they're providing parts and materials, creating custom machined parts for each other, or simply offering advice and suggestions. The FRC competition is based on alliances between teams, not going it alone. FIRST is the brainchild of inventor Dean Kamen, who created, among other inventions, the portable dialysis machine and the Segway. With the help of many major corporations - such as BAE, GM, SMALL PARTS and AutoDesk - the FIRST Robotics Competition has flourished into an organization of over 1500 teams and 20,000 students from around the globe, including countries such as Canada, Mexico, England, Brazil, Israel, New Zeeland, and almost every state in the USA. With each recurring year, FIRST has expanded the number of competitions.

 Mision

To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes.

 Vision

FIRST's mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.

FIRST Robotics Competition, FRC.

“The varsity sport for the mind,” FRC combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, high school teams of 25 students or more are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,.” hone teamwork skills, and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. It's as close to “real-world engineering” as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team.  Each year FIRST develops the competition by supplying an objective to teams of students, who have six weeks to conceptualize, design, build, and test their robotic solution. Each year the objective is different; details are kept secret until early January, when it is simultaneously revealed to all teams during the Kick-Off workshop held in New Hampshire. Once the six weeks have passed, robots are transported to the competition site where teams will compete in March.

For more information about FIRST visit usfirst.org