FIRST Alumni and Scholarship Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who are FIRST Alumni?

  • FIRST Alumni are graduates of high school-level FIRST programs (i.e. FIRST Tech Challenge and/or FIRST Robotics Competition).
  • FIRST participants are automatically considered FIRST Alumni after graduating high school.
  • FIRST Alumni are 2.6 times more likely to enroll in an engineering course freshman year of college.
  • Over 75% of FIRST Alumni are in a STEM field as a student or professional
  • Nearly half of FIRST Alumni are still involved in FIRST as coaches, mentors, and volunteers, and donors.
  • More information about FIRST Alumni, along with internship and networking opportunities, can be found at firstinspires.org/alumni.

Who is eligible for a FIRST Scholarship?

  • High school students who have participated or are participating on high-school-level FIRST Robotics Competition and/or FIRST Tech Challenge teams can apply for FIRST Scholarships
  • Most FIRST Scholarship Providers request applications during a student's senior/12th year, but there are a few scholarships available to juniors or college students. 
  • Each scholarship may also have other eligibility requirements as set by the provider. Eligibility requirements are available at firstinspires.org/scholarships.

How does the FIRST Scholarship Program work?

  • FIRST Scholarships are offered and administered by the scholarship providers. Scholarship providers are primarily four-year colleges and universities, but also include, corporations, and associations.
  • Most FIRST scholarships are merit-based scholarships and may be renewable each year by maintaining an acceptable academic average. Each scholarship is unique and has its own award amount, eligibility requirements, application requirements, and application deadline.
  • Most applications are due between December and April of the last year of high school/12th grade, but applicants should pay close attention to individual deadlines. Each FIRST Scholarship has its own application process and may require an essay and/or a recommendation letter from a mentor or coach.
  • Most opportunities are made available each year, so future applicants should become familiar with the opportunities in the program in preparation to apply during their eligible year.
  • Opportunities, applications, and details about available scholarships can be found at firstinspires.org/scholarships.

 Have more questions?

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FIRST Impact Award Resources May. 8 2024| 0 KB

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The FIRST Impact Award (formerly Chairman’s Award) is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the mission of FIRST. It was created to keep the central focus of FIRST Robotics Competition on the ultimate goal of transforming the culture in ways that will inspire greater levels of respect and honor for science and technology, as well as encouraging more of today’s youth to become science and technology leaders. You can read the guidelines on the Submitted Awards webpage.  

FIRST Impact Award Resources

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 

When is the due date?

The due date for the 2024 season is Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 3pm ET. 

What do I have to submit?

The FIRST Impact Award Submission is made up of executive summaries that ask specific questions and an essay. Each executive summary is limited to 500 characters including spaces and punctuation. The essay is limited to 10,000 characters, including spaces and punctuation. The list of questions can be found on the Submitted Awards webpage. Teams are also invited to submit an optional FIRST Impact Award video with their submission. This video will be shown at the event if the team wins. 

Who can submit?

Teams can designate up to two student award submitters who can submit for the award. Due to changes with Data Privacy guidelines at FIRST, a student can only be assigned as an award submitter if their parent/guardian has signed the Consent & Release Form. To help ensure teams will be able to submit the FIRST Impact Award by the deadlines, lead mentors 1 and 2 can also submit these awards (in addition to the student award submitters). While we are allowing this option, we still strongly encourage these submissions to be made by students.

How do I appoint a Youth Team Member to be an Award Submitter?

Lead Coach/Mentor 1 or 2 can assign a Youth Team Member as an Award Submitter through the FIRST Dashboard. Only students whose parents/guardians have signed a consent  and release form will be able to be chosen as an Awards Submitter. Select the Youth Team Member that you want to assign as an Award Submitter and click the checkbox. For step by step directions see this document.

Where do I submit for the award?

The award is submitted by an Awards Submitter or Lead Mentor 1/2 through the FIRST Dashboard. The student/mentor should login to their account and navigate to their team and click the blue drop down for “Certificates & Awards.” From there, they will see an option to submit for FIRST Impact Award. Be sure to click the submission complete button after entering all fields. After successfully submitting, Lead Mentor 1 & 2 will receive a confirmation email.

What do I need for the interview?

  • Students should prepare a presentation. FIRST Impact Award interviews are limited to 12 minutes total; up to 7 minutes for a presentation by the team (which includes set-up) and up to 5 minutes of question and answer led by the Judges.
    • Teams needing a translator or sign-language interpreter may include an additional person to act as that translator/interpreter. The translator/interpreter does not need to be a team member. For these teams, the duration of the interview is increased by up to 5 minutes – up to 2 minutes for the presentation and up to 3 minutes for the Q&A portion.
  • No more than 3 pre-college team members are allowed in the Presentation.
  • One adult Team Mentor may attend the interview as a silent observer and later provide feedback to the team, but the mentor is not allowed to provide any assistance during the interview. 
  • More specific information can be found on the Submitted Awards webpage. 

How do I view my team's feedback?

Feedback is available 48 hours after the event has concluded until the end of the season and is emailed to lead mentor 1 and 2 approximately 48 hours after the event. Feedback is also available in the dashboard. To view feedback in the Dashboard, you must either be an Awards Submitter or lead mentor 1 or 2:

  1. Login to the FIRST Dashboard

  2. In Team Options section, click CERTIFICATES & AWARDS button. Then click on FIRST Impact Award

  3. A pop-up will appear for the FIRST Impact Award Definitions. Click the CLOSE button

  4. In another tab in your browser, you will be directed to Youth Team Member Registration. Click on VIEW button for FIRST Impact Award.

  5. On the FIRST Impact Award Submission Summary page, scroll down to bottom of page. Click the EDIT button

                    NOTE: Your teams’ FIRST Impact Award Submission cannot be edited because the FIRST Impact Award is closed.  The data on this page is now read-only.

  6. Scroll down to the FEEDBACK section just above the Essay.

 

 

Awards

 

FIRST Robotics Competition celebrates the excitement of competition both on and off the field. Through the following awards, we celebrate the FIRST Core Values which makes us so much #morethanrobots. Please note that different event types (e.g. Regional events, District Competitions, FIRST Championship) offer a different set of awards. Not every award is presented at every FIRST Robotics Competition event. Details by event type are available on the linked pages below.

 

​Important Award Deadlines:

FIRST Impact Award

FIRST Dashboard

Student Award Submitter or
Lead Mentor 1 or 2

February 13, 2025, at 3pm ET

Dean's List Award

FIRST Dashboard

Adult Award Submitter or 
Lead Mentor 1 or 2

February 6, 2025, at 3pm ET

Digital Animation Award 
sponsored by AutomationDirect.com

Visit the Digital Animation Award page for details

Any Team Member

Coming Soon!

Safety Animation Award 
sponsored by UL Solutions

FIRST Dashboard

Student Award Submitter or
Lead Mentor 1 or 2

November 21, 2024 at 3pm ET 

Woodie Flowers Award

FIRST Dashboard

Student Award Submitter

February 6, 2025, at 3pm ET

FIRST® Robotics Competition Awards

The awards are grouped into four categories: Machine, Creativity, and Innovation Awards, Team Attribute Awards, Submitted Awards, and Robot Performance Awards. The Founder’s Award and Volunteer of the Year Award stand alone.

To be eligible for any award, teams will be required to follow FIRST Core Values, demonstrate Gracious Professionalism®, and implement and follow appropriate safety practices.

 

Machine, Creativity, & Innovation Awards 

Autonomous Award

Creativity Award sponsored by Rockwell Automation 

Excellence in Engineering Award 

Industrial Design Award sponsored by General Motors 

Innovation in Control Award 

Quality Award 

Team Attribute Awards

Engineering Inspiration Award 

Gracious Professionalism® Award 

Imagery Award in honor of Jack Kamen 

Judges’ Award 

Rookie All-Star Award 

Rookie Inspiration Award 

Team Spirit Award 

Team Sustainability Award sponsored by Dow

Submitted Awards

FIRST Impact Award (formerly Chairman's Award)

Digital Animation Award sponsored by AutomationDirect.com

FIRST Dean’s List Award

Safety Animation Award sponsored by UL Solutions

Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

 

Need help submitting? Please ensure you have been designated as an Awards Submitter or find more helpful tips here. 

Robot Performance Award

Finalist - Celebrates the Alliance that makes it to the final match of the competition.

Winner - Celebrates the Alliance that wins the competition.

Other Awards

Founder’s Award - Recognizes the organization or individual that has contributed significantly to the growth of FIRST.

Volunteer of the Year Award - Presented to an individual, business, or organization that consistently excels in their efforts, with proven results in the areas of impact, leadership, personal commitment, community, and historical contributions.​

All Awards 

Award Resources

Inside Look at the Judging Process -  Review this document to learn more about how the judging process works at events.  

Best Practices for FIRST Robotics Competition Judged Awards - This resource includes tips for talking with judges in the pits as well as tips for the FIRST Impact Award and Dean's List Award.

Award Workbook - This resource contains the award descriptions and guidelines as well as suggested questions that judges may use during pit interviews.

FIRST Impact Award Resources - This webpage contains multiple resources to help teams when submitting for the FIRST Impact Award including, previous winning team's submissions, an FAQ on the award, and additional resources.

Dean's List Award Guide - This guide assists team in preparing for the submission and for participating in the Dean’s List Award interview. It contains information on the Dean's List Award, best practices for writing the submission and preparing for the interview, and more!

Helpful Award Tips - A webpage covering frequently asked questions when trying to enter any of the submitted awards.

 

 

See also the FRC-Events Website to see past award winners.

 

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Championship Eligibility Criteria Mar. 26 2024| 0 KB

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In order to compete at the 2024 FIRST® Championship, a 2024 registered FIRST® Robotics Competition team must be eligible.

Teams are eligible to register for the FIRST Championship if they are:

  • a Pre-Qualifying Team,
  • a Merit-Based Qualifying Team,
  • invited from the Priority Waitlist, or
  • invited from the Open Waitlist.

Pre-Qualifying Teams

The following teams will be pre-qualified for the 2024 FIRST Championship based on their performance at the 2023 FIRST Championship:

  • 2023 FIRST Championship Winners: 1323, 2609, 4096, and 4414
  • 2023 FIRST Impact Award Finalists: 118, 3284, 5665, 5985, and 6865
  • 2023 Engineering Inspiration Award Winners: 4, 1156, 1676, 2096, 2486, 3937, 5166, and 7565
  • 2023 FIRST Impact Award Winner: 321

The FIRST Impact Award, formerly the Chairman’s Award, is the most prestigious award in the program and is the only way FIRST Robotics Competition teams can enter the Hall of Fame. To honor this achievement, Hall of Fame teams that earned their Chairman's / FIRST Impact Award at the last ten FIRST Championships prior to 2023 are also pre-qualified teams. These teams are: 27, 359, 503, 597, 987, 1114, 1538, 1629, 1816, 1902, 2614, 2834, 3132, and 4613.

Merit-Based Qualifying Teams

Merit-Based Qualifying slots are issued based on a team's performance during the season. Eligible teams are automatically given the opportunity to register for the FIRST Championship at the time of their win at either a Regional Event or at their District Championship. Teams who compete in District areas will not be able to advance to the FIRST Championship from Regional events. Teams from Districts that are Regional Winners will generate Wild cards at that event. Teams from Districts are also still not eligible to win the FIRST Impact Award, Engineering Inspiration, or Rookie All-Star award at Regional events.

District Model

Each District determines the number of Dean’s List Finalists, FIRST Impact Awards, Rookie All Star Awards, and Engineering Inspiration Awards to present at their District Championship, within a range established by FIRST. The team counts are based on the team representation of the respective District at the Championship. For the awards, ranges are developed by using ratios agreed upon by FIRST and District Leadership. These ranges allow each District to represent their own community as they see fit.

  • For the FIRST Impact Award, the ratios range from one FIRST Impact Award team for every 18 Championship District teams to one FIRST Impact Award team for every nine Championship District teams.
  • For the Dean’s List Finalist Award, the ratios range from one Dean’s List Finalist for every nine Championship District teams to one Dean’s List Finalist for every six Championship District teams.
  • All Districts, regardless of FIRST Championship Slot allocation, may award one or two Engineering Inspiration and Rookie All-Star Awards.

The following teams competing in the District model earn a Merit-Based Qualifying slot:

  • District Championship 
    • FIRST Impact Award Winners
    • Engineering Inspiration Award Winners
    • Rookie All-Star Winners (the District can decide if they present this award or not)
    • Winning Alliance members
  • as many teams in District-points total order to fill the Allocated FIRST Championship slots granted per the table below. 

Districts receive the percentage of 'available slots' at FIRST Championship, rounded up to the nearest whole slot, equal to the percentage of teams they have in their District compared to the total of all FIRST Robotics Competition teams. 'Available slots' are calculated by taking the total number of slots at FIRST Championship and subtracting the number of pre-qualified teams. This overall calculation uses a ‘snapshot’ of teams that have registered and paid as of three weeks after initial season payment was due.

District Allocated FIRST Championship Slots FIRST Impact Award Winners Dean's List Award Finalists Engineering Inspiration Award Winners Rookie All-Star Award Winners Woodie Flowers Award Finalists
FIRST Chesapeake 17 1 2 1 1 2
FIRST in Michigan 86 5 14 1 2 3
FIRST Mid-Atlantic 22 2 4 2 1 2
FIRST Indiana Robotics 11 1 2 1 1 1
NE FIRST 31 3 5 2 1 2
Ontario 23 3 4 1 1 2
FIRST in Texas 29 2 5 2 2 2
FIRST Israel 11 1 2 1 1 1
FIRST North Carolina 13 1 2 2 2 1
Pacific Northwest 22 2 4 1 2 2
Peachtree 16 2 3 2 2 1

Regional Model

The following teams earn a Merit-Based Qualifying slot:

  • FIRST Impact Award Winner
  • Engineering Inspiration Award Winner
  • Winning Alliance: Captain
  • Winning Alliance: 1st Pick
  • Wild Card recipients

Wild Cards

If a team at a Regional earned a FIRST Championship spot prior to the Regional and then wins the FIRST Impact Award, Engineering Inspiration Award, or is the Winning Alliance's Captain, or 1st Pick at that Regional or is already a Pre-Qualifying team, it generates a Wild Card, i.e. a FIRST Championship Merit-Based slot that is offered to another team. Teams that receive a FIRST Championship slot via the Priority Waitlist generate Wild Cards. Teams that receive a FIRST Championship slot via the Open Waitlist do not generate Wild Cards.

Any team earning 2 qualifying spots at a single Regional generates 1 Wild Card.

Wild Cards are distributed in the following order:

  1. Winning Alliance 2nd pick,
  2. Rookie All-Star Award Winner,
  3. Winning Alliance backup team (if applicable),
  4. Finalist Alliance Captain,
  5. Finalist Alliance 1st pick,
  6. Finalist Alliance 2nd pick,
  7. Finalist Alliance backup team (if applicable)
  8. 3rd Place Alliance Captain,
  9. 3rd Place Alliance 1st pick,
  10. 3rd Place Alliance 2nd pick,
  11. 3rd Place Alliance backup team (if applicable)
  12. 4th Place Alliance Captain,
  13. 4th Place Alliance 1st pick,
  14. 4th Place Alliance 2nd pick,
  15. 4th Place Alliance backup team (if applicable)

 

Wild Cards are distributed until either all Wild Card slots generated at that event are consumed or the 4th place Alliance is out of Teams, whichever comes first. If a Wild Card eligible team already earned a spot at the FIRST Championship, they are skipped, and the next member next eligible team is given the available Wild Card. A team may decline a Wild Card, but this does not pass the Wild Card to the next team, instead, the Wild Card goes unused. Unused Wild Card slots are not back-filled or replaced.

Priority Waitlist

The remaining Hall of Fame teams who were not pre-qualified and the Original and Sustaining teams are automatically placed on a Priority Waitlist. Each week, Regional Winning Alliance Second Picks, Regional Rookie-All-Star Award winners and Regional Winning Alliance Backup teams (if applicable) are also added. The process and selection criteria for pulling from the Priority Waitlist are described in this Feb 16, 2022 blog. The only change is that teams qualifying during the season are given a higher chance than pre-qualifying teams. FIRST Championship slots not consumed by Pre-Qualifying and Merit-Based Qualifying teams are filled using the Priority Waitlist until it is exhausted.


Open Waitlist

Teams may join the FIRST Championship Open Waitlist beginning Oct 26th to fill slots not consumed by Pre-Qualifying, Merit-Based Qualifying, or Priority Waitlist teams. 

Teams sign up for the Open Waitlist through the Dashboard. To do so, a team’s Lead Mentor 1 or 2 must

  1. log in to the Dashboard,
  2. in the Team Events section, click the “Event Options” drop-down menu,
  3. select View Team Events,
  4. click the Find An Event button,
  5. locate the FIRST Championship Event ;in the event list, and
  6. click the Waitlist button.
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Newly Formed FIRST Robotics Competition Teams May. 16 2024| 0 KB

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The formation of new FIRST® Robotics Competition teams is critical to FIRST® Founder Dean Kamen's vision of changing the culture and creating the spirit of Gracious Professionalism® that is open and friendly to new participants. Newly formed FIRST Robotics Competition teams fall into several categories which are noted below.

 

This webpage describes the different types of teams and the differences between them. It is important to remember that these are guidelines only and FIRST will review special situations on a case-by-case basis as they are brought to our attention. Teams that do not meet the guidelines and wish to submit a petition for Rookie Status may do so by writing to us at customerservice@firstinspires.org. We ask the following to be added to the subject line: “Request for 2025 Rookie Status” along with a full description of the situation.

 

Types of Teams

  • Rookie Teams - These are new teams that are:
    • associated with a school or organization that did not have a FIRST Robotics Competition team participate in the last 3 seasons, 
    • do not have 6 or more student participants with prior FIRST Robotics Competition experience, and 
    • eligible for the New Team Grant
  • New Veteran Teams - These are new teams that do not meet the official Rookie definition. This could because they are a sibling team, were formed from a separation (Separation/Combine Rules), are reactivating a team that has not participated within 3 seasons, or have more than 6 students with previous experience.
  • Veteran Teams - These are teams that have competed in more than 1 season.

 

Team Status & Differences 

Item Rookie New Veteran Veteran
Registration Fee $6,000 $6,000 $6,000

Eligible for New Team Grant (Visit our Grants webpage for more information.)

 Yes Yes No
Eligible for NASA Rookie Grant (Visit our Grants webpage for more information.) Yes Yes No
Kit of Parts - Rookie Tote? Yes No No
Kit of Parts - Can opt out of Drive Base Kit? No Yes Yes
Kit of Parts - Can opt out of Black Tote? No Yes Yes
Additional District Points (as defined in the Game Manual) Yes No No
Eligible for Rookie Only Awards? (As noted on the Awards webpage) Yes No No
Can interview for the FIRST Impact Award? No No Yes

 

Multiple Teams

Sibling Teams: FIRST Robotics Competition has defined Sibling Teams as multiple teams associated with one organization. All Sibling Teams must follow the Guidelines for Sibling Teams while competing in FIRST Robotics Competition. 

2024 FIRST® Suppliers

Crown Suppliers

3M
AndyMark
Autodesk
DS Solidworks
FedEx
Gates
Igus, Inc.
Molex
National Instruments
PTC
Rev Robotics
Rockwell Automation
Vivid Hosting

Diamond Suppliers

Digi-Key
WestCoast Products

Gold Suppliers

Silver Suppliers

​Bronze Suppliers

​​Other Contributors​

  • ECIA - Electronic Components Industry Assn.
  • GreenGate3D
  • HPE Automation
  • OnScale
  • ScreenSteps

 

FIRST® Tech Challenge Sponsors

Season Presenting Sponsor

RTX logo

See also:  Our Supporters for a complete list of FIRST sponsors, suppliers, alliances, and individual supporters

Strategic Partners & Founding Sponsors

A special thank you to our FIRST Strategic Partners, top sponsors as recognized and designated by the FIRST Board of Directors each year, and to our Founding Sponsors, the organizations who provided FIRST with seed capital in the late 1990s and who continue to support us to this day.

See also:  Our Supporters for a complete list of FIRST sponsors, suppliers, alliances, and individual supporters

Strategic Partners

 
3M
Apple
Argosy
Bechtel
Bechtel
Boeing
Bosch
Caterpillar
Caterpillar
DEKA
Dow
Dow
FedEx
Ford
Gene Haas Foundation
GM
Google.org
John Deere
LEGO Education
NASA
NI
Novelis
Qualcomm
RTX
Rockwell Automation
TE Connectivity

Founding Sponsors

Aptiv
Baxter
Boston Scientific
DEKA
Chrysler
GM
J&J
KPCB
Motorola
Xerox

FIRST Senior Mentor Position Description


Summary

FIRST® Senior Mentors (or FSMs) are a group of highly skilled and talented, technical and non-technical individuals serving in various locations across the United States and Canada. Their main focus is on recruiting, supporting, and expanding FIRST programs at the local level.

FIRST Senior Mentors contribute on average 10-15 hours per week in a part-time position. FIRST Senior Mentors work closely and collaboratively with local Program Delivery Partners in their area. In their service, FIRST Senior Mentors have many opportunities to provide critical support to FIRST in their region. Many FIRST Senior Mentors support local FIRST programs by identifying and recruiting volunteers to be mentors, coaches, and event volunteers while supporting existing teams, mentors, and coaches.

FIRST Senior Mentors are recruited through a nomination process that occurs locally at the recommendation of their local Program Delivery Partners because of their previous relationships with FIRST Programs and their general understanding of the culture of FIRST. Most FIRST Senior Mentors have an existing relationship with FIRST as team mentors, coaches, or event volunteers.

FIRST Senior Mentors serve under an annual contract which can be renewed each year, contingent upon the FIRST Senior Mentor being in good standing with the program. FIRST Senior Mentor contracts typically start on July 1st and end on June 30th each year.

 

How does someone become a FIRST Senior Mentor?

FIRST Senior Mentors are recruited through a nomination process that occurs locally at the recommendation of their local Program Delivery Partners:

  • Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate their ability and commitment to serve the required hours for the position, for the duration of the contract (typically 10 - 15 hours per week)
  • Based on organizational needs, secondary priority will be given to applicants who are able to serve in locations where there is some level of infrastructure of FIRST® LEGO® League, FIRST® Tech Challenge, and FIRST® Robotics Competition and/or in underserved communities

 

Field Responsibilities:

  • Build relationships with volunteer recruitment resources such as companies, professional associations, educational institutions, and other nonprofit organizations for support of FIRST Programs;
  • Recruit, support and recognize volunteers to serve as FIRST team mentors, coaches, or as event volunteers;
  • Support teams, mentors, and coaches within their geographic area;
  • Link, where possible, new volunteers into the existing network of FIRST teams, and to assist in coordinating training and support for new teams, mentors and coaches;
  • Facilitate and/or conduct presentations and/or skills-building workshops for potential and current mentors, coaches, event volunteers, and teams;
  • Work within FIRST programs to assess and meet the support needs of volunteers, bolster volunteer motivation and retention, and facilitate volunteer recognition.

 

Job Responsibilities: 

  • Develop an annual service plan in collaboration with their local Program Delivery Partners in the areas where they serve
  • Submit regular member impact data reports and expense reports in compliance with submission deadlines
  • Participate in teleconferences, web conference meetings, and other trainings (usually twice monthly)
  • Perform other duties as required/assigned

 

Qualifications and Attributes: 

The ideal candidate will possess the following professional qualifications, and personal attributes:

  • Experience as a FIRST volunteer, especially as a team mentor with FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST LEGO League, or FIRST Tech Challenge is strongly preferred
  • A demonstrated commitment to the FIRST mission and goals
  • Experience in volunteer recruitment, screening, training, motivation and recognition
  • An understanding of office and internet technology and the ability to utilize systems
  • An ability to effectively handle interpersonal situations, including tactfully handling feedback
  • A high energy level, flexible, and self-motivated
  • Articulate, with a proven ability to write and speak well
  • Highest level of personal and professional integrity and quality standards
  • Cross-cultural sensitivity and experience working with diverse communities
  • An ability to meet the travel requirements of the position

 

Benefits of Service: 

  • Each FIRST Senior Mentor is eligible to receive a monthly honorarium payment. This payment is taxable, and the project will not withhold taxes from these payments. The FSM is responsible for paying any and all taxes on these payments.
  • Each FIRST Senior Mentor is provided with an expense reimbursement allowance to offset FIRST-related expenses, as detailed in the FIRST Travel and Expense Policies
  • Training and support

 

Regionally funded FIRST Senior Mentor Model

Most FIRST Senior Mentor positions are funded through FIRST HQ, however there are additional options to provide support on the local level. The Regional FIRST Senior Mentor, or RFSM, is supported and underwritten financially on a regional level, and would sign the standard FIRST Senior Mentor contract and adhere to the requirements as outlined above and below.

  • All contracts shall commence no sooner than July 1st, (or at the time of signing the contract) and will run through June 30th, each year
  • RFSMs will be paid through FIRST on a monthly basis in compliance with the requirements of their contract
  • Funds required to support the RFSM position are the responsibility of the local Program Delivery Partners requesting the position
  • Funds to support the RFSM position should be received by FIRST in advance of their taking their placement
  • Regional FIRST Senior Mentors will be recruited at the recommendation of the local Program Delivery Partners

 

The main contact for all active members is the FIRST Senior Mentor Program in Manchester, NH. Questions regarding the FIRST Senior Mentor Program should be directed via email to:

Julie Martinez
FIRST Senior Mentor Program Manager
jmartinez@firstinspires.org

FIRST welcomes a diverse pool of candidates.

 

Current Senior Mentors

View the FIRST Senior Mentor Map

Location Name Email
UNITED STATES    
Alabama Evan Helmeid ehelmeid@firstinspires.org
Arkansas John Novak jnovak@firstinspires.org
Los Angeles, California Mark Lampert mlampert@firstinspires.org
Los Angeles/Ventura, California Velma Lomax vlomax@firstinspires.org
San Diego, California Demian Martinez dmartinez@firstinspires.org
Southern California Rick Sisk rsisk@firstinspires.org
Connecticut Stacey Gray sgray@firstinspires.org
Washington, DC Angie Fontanilla afontanilla@firstinspires.org
Northern Florida Celena Crews ccrews@firstinspires.org
Orlando, Florida Andrew Milluzzi amilluzzi@firstinspires.org
South Florida Allyn Bernstein abernstein@firstinspires.org
Georgia Linda Pham lpham@firstinspires.org
Chicago, Illinois Jeff Paules jpaules@firstinspires.org
Indiana Keith Hall khall@firstinspires.org
Indiana Rachel Miller rmiller@firstinspires.org
Kentucky Jeff Slaton jslaton@firstinspires.org
Louisiana Eric Smith esmith@firstinspires.org
Maine Steve Martin smartin@firstinspires.org
Massachusetts Dana Henry dhenry@firstinspires.org
Minnesota Evan Hochstein ehochstein@firstinspires.org
Minnesota Laurie Shimizu lshimizu@firstinspires.org
Mississippi Clint Brawley cbrawley@firstinspires.org
Kansas City, Missouri Jean Melech jmelech@firstinspires.org
New Hampshire Ken St. Hilaire ksthilaire@firstinspires.org
New Jersey Lou Okrent lokrent@firstinspires.org
Las Vegas, Nevada Brandon Sellers bsellers@firstinspires.org
Buffalo, New York Rebecca Wasmer rwasmer@firstinspires.org
Finger Lakes Region, New York Ron Borden rborden@firstinspires.org
North Carolina Fiona Last-Powell flastpowell@firstinspires.org
Dayton, Ohio Ted Hood thood@firstinspires.org
Columbus, Ohio Jeff Richards jrichards@firstinspires.org
Oklahoma Brad Fitzgerald bfitzgerald@firstinspires.org
Oregon Linda Koontz lkoontz@firstinspires.org
Eastern Pennsylvania Hannah Farrell hfarrell@firstinspires.org
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Nick Winwood nwinwood@firstinspires.org
Knoxville, Tennessee Sydney Buckner sbuckner@firstinspires.org
Dallas, Texas Joe Varnell jvarnell@firstinspires.org
Houston, Texas Katie Kelley kkelley@firstinspires.org
Houston, Texas Katie Wagner kwagner@firstinspires.org
Austin, Texas George Tan gtan@firstinspires.org
Rio Grande Valley, Texas Mike Acevedo macevedo@firstinspires.org
San Antonio, Texas Mike Henry  mhenry@firstinspires.org 
Virginia Kevin 'KP' Pardus kpardus@firstinspires.org
Greater Seattle, Washington Robert Steele rsteele@firstinspires.org
West Virginia Ryan Utzman rutzman@firstinspires.org
Wisconsin Jane Blau jblau@firstinspires.org
CANADA    
Calgary, Alberta Max Kaulback mkaulback@firstinspires.org
Calgary, Alberta Craig Maynard cmaynard@firstinspires.org
Greater Toronto, Ontario Melissa Douglas mdouglas@firstinspires.org
Greater Toronto, Ontario Paul Keenan pkeenan@firstinspires.org
North Bay, Ontario Heather Kelso hkelso@firstinspires.org
Southern Ontario George Chisholm gchisholm@firstinspires.org
Toronto, Ontario Annika Pint apint@firstinspires.org
Windsor, Ontario Sheri Lynn Koscielski skoscielski@firstinspires.org