First

Mission

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 by Inventor Dean Kamen to inspire and excite secondary high school students about mathematics, science and engineering. Many companies and organizations have established bridges with local schools to help ensure the future presence of a qualified work force, few programs have been developed on the national level. One program that has, and has been very successful in its mission, is the national robotics competition of FIRST. The FIRST conducts regional and national design competitions which demonstrate that engineering, math and science can be interesting, captivating and entertaining as a sporting event.

Programs

The FIRST competition expands each year with the number of teams that participate in this large scale, made -for- television engineering competition, which shows youth that no other career compares to one in science and engineering. Each team, with their engineering support, starts off with the same standard kit of parts, and in six weeks, uses their creativity to design and build a robotic vehicle, capable of performing a demanding task that changes each year. Participating in FIRST is a way for corporate America to celebrate the engineering profession locally and nationally. Participating is a commitment that requires a lot of energy, that effort makes a positive impact in many other peoples' lives.