Tnfirst

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a national non-profit organization started in 1989 in Manchester New Hampshire by famous inventor, Dean Kamen. Focused on getting K-12 kids engaged in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) efforts, FIRST provides real world challenges to students throughout the country. TNFIRST is the extension of this program here in Tennessee with its highlight event of the year being a 3 day robotics competition (Smoky Mountains Regional) held at the Thompson Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus in the March each year. Students have six weeks to build a robot and use that robot in collaboration with other HS teams to compete on a 25x50ft field of play accomplishing goals that change every year.

As you may imagine, building a robot, competing at the Smoky Mountains Regional event, and hosting the event itself is a major financial undertaking. As a result, TNFIRST has setup an online donation process with the help of mightycause.com in support of the teams and the competition. Please donate right here at mightycause.com or visit www.tnfirst.org and make your donation there as well.

Students who join FIRST and compete in this national program (over 3700 teams and 500,000 students) are 7 times more likely to attend college in the STEM arena, and use over $70M in FIRST scholarships at over 200 colleges and universities across the nation.