FIRST inspires young people to become science and technology leaders through mentor-based robotics programs.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1989 by inventors Dean Kamen and Woodie Flowers. Their mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators.
FIRST organizes robotics competitions and programs that engage students from kindergarten through high school. Participants design and build robots, develop business plans, and learn about STEM careers — all while embodying core values like teamwork, gracious professionalism, and inclusion.
Today, FIRST reaches over 660,000 students in more than 100 countries worldwide.
FIRST offers programs for all ages — from early exploration to advanced engineering challenges.
Young children explore STEM through simple LEGO-based projects focused on discovery and teamwork.
Students build and program LEGO robots to solve real-world challenges while developing research projects.
Teams design, build, and program robots to compete in an alliance-based format using real engineering tools and Java — that's us, Team #31844!
High school students build large-scale robots in just 6 weeks to compete in high-energy arena matches with professional-grade hardware.
Visit the official FIRST website to explore programs, find events, and discover how to get involved.
Visit FIRST Website ↗