New Hampshire School Boards Association Endorses FIRST
School Board Leaders Issue Proclamation in Support of Nonprofit’s K-12 Robotics Programs for Building Students’ 21st Century Learning Skills
MANCHESTER, N.H., February 4, 2019 ― FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a global K-12 not-for-profit organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people’s interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), has been endorsed by the New Hampshire School Boards Association (NHSBA), which promotes excellence in public education for all New Hampshire children.
In a proclamation presented today to Donald E. Bossi, president of FIRST, and Frank Grossman, director of FIRST NH, at FIRST headquarters in Manchester, the NHSBA declared its support of FIRST programs for engaging students in enhanced experiential learning and encouraged continued collaboration between parents and local school boards to make its robotics programs widely available to New Hampshire students.
“The New Hampshire School Boards Association (NHSBA) is pleased to offer its recognition and support to FIRST,” said Shannon Barnes, immediate past president of NHSBA. “NHSBA greatly appreciates the efforts of FIRST to reach New Hampshire students and engage students in programs that foster science, engineering, technology and leadership skills in our students.”
A decade of verifiable data from Brandeis University, including four years of data from a rigorous longitudinal study, shows that exposing kids to hands-on, project-based FIRST programs builds 21st century skills and greatly increases their motivation to seek education and careers in STEM fields.
Pictured: Ken St. Hilaire, senior mentor, FIRST NH; Barrett M. Christina, executive director, New Hampshire School Boards Association;
Donald E. Bossi, president, FIRST; Shannon Barnes, immediacy past president, NHSBA; Frank Grossman, director, FIRST NH
Through FIRST, students from all walks of life develop self-confidence in STEM and valuable, real-world skills that open pathways to all career choices and outcomes. According to a recent study, 67 percent of U.S. executives expect to choose job candidates with tech and analytical skills over those without, yet only 23 percent of educators believe their students will graduate with these essential skills.
“On behalf of FIRST and FIRST NH, I’m honored the NHBSA has voiced their support for the role of our programs in the education of New Hampshire’s students,” Bossi said. “It is because of forward-looking school leaders like the NHBSA that FIRST will reach over 600,000 students this year. I hope this leadership will encourage more schools to explore FIRST programs when seeking to engage students in STEM and project-based learning.”
The proclamation, signed by Barnes and dated November 14, 2018, reads as follows:
Whereas, the New Hampshire School Boards Association promotes excellence in public education for all New Hampshire children; and
Whereas, the New Hampshire School Boards Association supports programs, initiatives and opportunities that allow students to engage in enhanced experiential learning; and
Whereas, the New Hampshire School Boards engages, collaborates and promotes with a variety of stakeholders, organizations and partners to further its mission of excellence in public education through school board leadership; and
Whereas, [FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)] seeks 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; and
IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED THAT THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION VALUES, PROMOTES AND SUPPORTS [FIRST] AND THEIR WORK SUPPORTING NEW HAMPSHIRE STUDENTS; AND HEREBY ENCOURAGES CONTINUED COLLABORATION BETWEEN FIRST ROBOTICS PARENTS AND LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS; IN FURTHERANCE OF THESE VALUES.
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 $80 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.