FIRST Honors President Barack Obama, Commits to Closing STEM Equity Gap
STEM Education Nonprofit Hosts Third Annual FIRST Inspire Gala, Raises Funds to Make FIRST Programs More Widely Available to Underserved Students
FIRST® commits to closing STEM equity gap at third annual FIRST Inspire Gala in New York City on November 2; honors President Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States, for his significant contributions to spreading the mission and impact of FIRST for nearly a decade.
NEW YORK, N.Y., November 8, 2017 – FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an international, K-12 not-for-profit organization founded to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology, and its local affiliate NYC FIRST®, gathered the nation’s most passionate STEM-education supporters at the 2017 FIRST Inspire Gala last week in New York City. The third annual fundraising gala celebrated work advancing the mission of FIRST and inspired further action to ensure that all children have access to creative, hands-on problem-solving opportunities that instill a lifelong love of learning and adaptability in the workforce.
Some of the most pressing issues facing businesses and communities – cultivating STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills and digital literacy in young people, and fostering diversity and inclusion – took center stage at this year’s event.
“As a global community, we have a responsibility to help kids become well-rounded citizens and critical thinkers who can collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds and respect each other,” said Donald Bossi, president of FIRST. “As we look at where the world is headed, that work is just as essential as providing our kids with the hard skills they’ll need to secure jobs in the future economy.
Each year the FIRST Inspire Gala honors outstanding individuals who have positively impacted STEM education and helped to further the mission of FIRST; this year’s honorees were former U.S. President Barack Obama and FIRST Alumnus Chelsey Roebuck.
- President Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States, received the “Make It Loud” Award for his significant contributions to raising awareness about FIRST among the general public and helping spread the mission and impact of the organization. Obama has been instrumental in supporting FIRST for nearly a decade. At the start of his first presidential term in 2009, Obama launched the “Educate to Innovate” campaign to support hands-on STEM education. He began the tradition of the White House Science Fair, where he honored FIRST students at each annual event. His commitment to the mission of FIRST has continued post-presidency. The Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance is inspiring youth in STEM education and helping provide clear pathways to opportunity.
- FIRST Alumnus Chelsey Roebuck received the Evelyn Kamen Rising Star Award for his accomplishments in leveling the playing field in STEM for underrepresented populations. As a high school student in Philadelphia, Roebuck participated on FIRST® Robotics Competition Team 1218. In 2010, he graduated from Columbia University with a degree in mechanical engineering. Through these experiences, Chelsey developed a passion for education and international development that led him to co-found the nonprofit Emerging Leaders in Technology and Education (ELiTE), which uses STEM education as a vehicle to empower low-opportunity students to realize their academic and career potential. Since 2009, ELiTE has pioneered hands-on STEM and computer science programs in low-income communities in New York City and throughout Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. In 2016, Roebuck was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
Proceeds from the FIRST Inspire Gala go toward making FIRST programs more widely available to underserved students in New York City, throughout our country, and around the world. This year’s event also helped fund FIRST STEM Equity Community Innovation Grants – grants designed to ensure more underrepresented and underserved students, and their communities, are exposed to creative problem-solving and hands-on learning, and are educated about future career opportunities available to them. FIRST STEM Equity Community Innovation Grants awarded in 2016 and 2017 are helping dozens of communities develop new and innovative approaches to address equity, inclusion, and diversity inequalities in STEM.
If you’re interested in learning more, or donating to FIRST, please visit firstinspires.org. To apply for a 2018 FIRST STEM Equity Community Innovation Grant, click here.
About FIRST®
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies and more than $50 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST® Robotics Competition for students in Grades 9-12; FIRST® Tech Challenge for Grades 7-12; FIRST® LEGO® League for Grades 4-8; and FIRST® LEGO® League Jr. for Grades K-4. Gracious Professionalism® is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.firstinspires.org.
About NYC FIRST®
NYC FIRST® is the New York City-based not-for-profit affiliate of FIRST®, an international not-for-profit mentoring organization that was created to excite young people about science and technology, prepare today's students to enter tomorrow's advanced technology-based workplace, and provide them with valuable life skills. NYC FIRST is dedicated to providing students from all five boroughs with the opportunity to take part in FIRST programs and providing them with the physical and human capital resources they need to unlock their creative potential. Participation in FIRST has a positive impact on the lives of students, increasing college attendance, majors in science and engineering, participation in internships, co-ops and careers, and involvement in community service. To learn more about NYC FIRST, go to www.nycfirst.org.