Preference System for Event Registration

Aug 17, 2017 Written by Frank Merrick

Last year, as folks know, we had problems with our event registration system. At the time, we said we would be moving away from first-come-first-served to a preference-based event registration system for the 2018 season. 

FIRST after high school

Aug 17, 2017 Written by FIRST President, Don Bossi

FIRST President Don Bossi shares his thoughts on Bossi shares his thoughts on FIRST after high school…

FIRST Programs Challenge Students to Tackle Global Water Crisis

FIRST® LEGO® League and FIRST® LEGO® League Jr. Task More than 300,000 Children Worldwide to Think About How and Why We Use Water

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Alumni Resources Jun. 20 2024| 0 KB

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FIRST®Alumni Relations Resources

The FIRST®experience doesn't end with high school! Education and career opportunities open up to you as a FIRST participant and alum. Check out the materials below to help educate you on FIRST Alumni Relations and available resources. 

Quick Links

Graduation and FIRST Signing Day

FIRST celebrates graduation each year with FIRST Signing Day. This year's celebrations will take place on May 20, 2024. 

FIRST Signing Day was developed by FIRST Robotics Competition Team 2468 and adopted globally by FIRST to recognize and celebrate graduating students and their next steps after high school. There are two main ways individuals and teams can participate in FIRST Signing Day:

- Posting on social media with the hashtag #FIRSTSigningDay celebrating and recognizing graduates and their next steps

- Host an in-person Signing Day event

Additional resources available soon.

Graduation Cords

The guidelines outlined below are established as a standard requirement for FIRST graduation cords. It's important to understand that the criteria listed are optional and can be adopted by teams as needed to award Graduation Cords. Any high school student actively involved in FIRST is eligible to participate. The responsibility for acquiring and distributing cords lies with the teams or organizations, and this process should be managed internally.

To wear a FIRST Graduation Cord, a student should:

1. be a contributing member of a high school FIRST team for at least one academic year,

2. be in good academic standing with their school and team,

3. actively participate in at least one official FIRST event,

4. actively display Gracious Professionalism,

5. actively embody FIRST Core Values: Discovery, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork, and Fun.

FIRST Graduation Cords are available for purchase within the FIRST store. 

Questions may be directed to mlong@firstinspires.org 

​Life Beyond FIRST - Becoming a FIRST Alum

FIRST participation doesn't end after high school - students every single year need people like you to stay involved, volunteer, and give back to the FIRST community! Check out the FIRST Alumni Handbook for ways FIRST helps in building your resume and making lasting life-long connections. 

FIRST Scholarship Program

The FIRST Scholarship Program is a partnership between FIRST and scholarship providing organizations that make scholarships available exclusively to FIRST participants. If you are planning to continue your education after high school whether it is college, university, or trade school, visit the FIRST Scholarship Portal to explore all of the opportunities made available to you.

45+ College Scholarships for Minority Students - published by Purdue University Global

This resource shares 45+ financial aid scholarships for prospective, undergraduate, and graduate students to supplement the cost of their education. This resource provides students with tips on how to apply for scholarships, as well as an extensive list of scholarships and grants. Also highlighted within the resource are opportunities dedicated to specific demographics such as African Americans, Asian Americans, Latino Students, Native Americans. The featured scholarships are current and are provided by trusted organizations. The resource will constantly be updated to ensure students can apply to the most accurate scholarships available.

Web Widget

Alumni widget      

Copy/paste the following code onto your team/region site to link to the FIRST alumni webpages.

Alumni Code
<a href=https://www.firstinspires.org/scholarships?utm_source=scholarship-widget&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=alumni-scholarship-019  target="_blank"><img alt="Alumni Widget" src=http://www.firstinspires.org/sites/default/files/uploads/resource_library/scholarships/first-alumni-widget.png  /></a>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you don't see a resource listed on this page that you think would be helpful, please email alumni@firstinspires.org to let us know! We would love to hear your feedback. 

INSPIRATION IS EVERWHERE

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Filling the STEM gap in Michigan

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Filling the STEM gap in Michigan

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FIRST in Michigan

FIRST State Organization

FIRST in Michigan runs one of the oldest and largest robotics organizations in the United States, building on a historic collaboration between FIRST, the State of Michigan, the auto industry, the Michigan school systems, and the students and volunteers who make it thrive.

Michigan and STEM

The auto industry drives STEM job growth in Michigan, and engineers are in high demand. In fact, about 45 percent of all Michigan STEM jobs are in engineering. STEM jobs are expected to grow at an annual rate of 5 percent per year from 2014 to 2024, according to the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workplace. Robotics technologies like shop floor automation and self-driving cars are helping drive that growth. Alumni of FIRST programs who go on to college and major in STEM disciplines are well equipped for this vibrant, technologically driven job market.

FIRST® in Michigan

FIRST programs came to Michigan in 1993 after FIRST founder Dean Kamen brought the idea to his longtime friend François J. Castaing, then at Chrysler. Castaing pitched FIRST to the Big Three automakers – Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors. They immediately recognized the value of introducing Michigan kids to STEM and engineering at a young age. In 2008, the program was reorganized, customizing its approach to include more frequent local competitions and greater representation among Michigan schools. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, a vocal supporter of FIRST, has invested millions in grant funding for school districts to establish FIRST teams, making FIRST the flagship STEM after-school program in Michigan.

Growth and opportunity

FIRST in Michigan reaches more than 28,000 K-12 students and mentors on 1,700 teams. FIRST teams are in roughly 60 percent of the state’s high schools. Additionally, the state is home to several community centers with robust FIRST programs, such as the FIRST Robotics Community Center, which opened in 2014 at Kettering University in Flint, Michigan.

“We have noticed that students who come from FIRST not only have the necessary skills and passion for engineering, but also exhibit the types of behaviors we look for at GM, like problem solving and collaboration.” — Ken Morris, Vice President of Global, Product Integrity, General Motors


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Surprises

Aug 09, 2017 Written by Frank Merrick.

Surprises and habits. Sometimes interrupting our habits can be a gift.

Kit of Parts Survey Prizes

Aug 03, 2017 Written by Jamee Luce, FRC Team Advocate

Thanks for everyone who participated in the Kit of Parts Survey this season. We have shared your initial feedback with our suppliers, and we are following up with individual reports throughout August.

FIRST Announces 2017 STEM Equity Community Innovation Grant Winners

Underserved and underrepresented students from 17 communities to receive grants facilitating hands-on learning and problem-solving opportunities

FIRST Celebrates Next Generation of World-Class Problem Solvers at FIRST Class Festival of Champions

Inventor Dean Kamen Welcomes FIRST Class of Champions 2017 to Manchester, New Hampshire, for Celebration, Robotics Action

MANCHESTER, N.H., August 1, 2017 – FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) celebrated middle and high school students from around the world who have received the highest honors during the most recent FIRST season at the 2017 FIRST Class Festival of Champions in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Saturday.

Festival of Champions

Jul 31, 2017 Written by Frank Merrick

Wow, sometimes the hype really is real! The Houston Alliance, considered by some to be the underdogs, winning the first two matches, which would have ended it if it had been a standard three match playoff? And St Louis roaring back, taking the next three, a loss in any of which would have ended the run? And a world record unpenalized high score in the final match, and zero penalties in every match? What impressive gameplay, and so exciting!