INSPIRATION IS EVERWHERE

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FIRST Alum Jeremy Shikarides

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FIRST inspired my high school to invest in young engineers

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Jeremy Shikarides

FIRST Alum, Volunteer, & Mentor

FIRST Alum Jeremy Shikarides joined his high school’s rookie FIRST Robotics Competition team, Team 5943 “Bad News Gears,” from Caramel, New York, and was inspired to major in aerospace and mechanical engineering. After noticing how many of the school’s FIRST students were applying to MIT and other high-profile engineering schools, Jeremy’s high school began investing in the team.

What did you do after becoming a FIRST Alum?
After high school, I began attending SUNY at Buffalo (UB) and am majoring in aerospace and mechanical engineering. I had also applied to MIT and didn’t get accepted, but because there were so many team members applying to schools like MIT and other high-profile engineering schools our high school took notice and started investing in the team!

What are your future plans?
My goal is to be able to work on manned Mars missions.

How has your FIRST experience impacted your post-graduation life?
FIRST was the biggest influence on my career. In my freshman/sophomore years of high school I was on the varsity wrestling team. My sophomore year I was injured and had to leave the team. I have always been a “tinkerer” and in my junior year I noticed that my school was in its rookie year of having a robotics team, so I decided to join! The first year was very busy and hectic but I learned a lot of lessons. In my senior year I became a team captain, and by then the team felt like a family. I have learned how to overcome problems and I learned to live by one of my favorite quotes, to “do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Teddy Roosevelt.

You’ve continued to be involved with FIRST as an alum; what have you been up to?
I am a mentor for my home FIRST Robotics Competition team, Team 5943, and for Team 7016. Additionally, I have been working towards the possible creation of a SUNY scholarship for FIRST Alumni and was assistant game announcer at the 2017 NYC regional and one of two emcees at the 2018 Hudson Valley regional.

You shared that you’ve made and kept great FIRST friends/established a great network within the FIRST community – any advice to current participants on how to do that?
Don’t be afraid to talk about robotics, and don’t be afraid to reach out! So many people I talk to on a daily basis, from classmates to paraprofessionals, were involved in FIRST, and I would have never known had I not talked about robotics. As I’ve practiced and performed as game announcer and emcee, I’ve been able to stay connected with all the other wonderful volunteers, through Facebook in addition to FIRST Alumni groups on Facebook.

Visit firstinspires.org/alumni for more FIRST Alumni spotlights.


To Build Next-Gen STEM Leaders, Universities and Industry Must Collaborate

Apr 24, 2018 By Donald E. Bossi, president of FIRST


Donald E. Bossi, president of FIRST, highlights takeaways for university leaders from his recent SXSW EDU panel on non-profit and corporation partnerships, with help from Erica Fessia, Qualcomm’s director of community engagement, and Jay Flores, Rockwell Automation’s global STEM ambassador.

INSPIRATION IS EVERWHERE

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FIRST Alum Elisa Moore

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FIRST nurtured my interest in international relations

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Elisa Moore

FIRST Alum & Mentor

FIRST Alum Elisa Moore honed her leadership and humanities skills on FIRST Robotics Competition Team 4828 “RoboEagles,” from Raleigh, North Carolina, helping her team win the Gold Prize in the FedEx Innovation Challenge at the 2016 FIRST Championship. Elisa is now working toward a career in international relations. She says FIRST helped her nurture her interest in international relations and taught her the value of Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition: “In my opinion, both of these qualities are foundational pieces of diplomacy and successful relations with other people and nations.”

What did you do after becoming a FIRST Alum?
When I began university, I had intended to double major in biomedical engineering and French, but I was sold on global studies from the time I took my first global issues classes. This semester, I am interning in DC at the Brookings Institution, working for the former Ambassador to the Czech Republic, and am on track to graduate a year early from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I am majoring in global studies and French with a minor in Slavic and East European languages and culture (concentration in Polish). Currently, I am in deciding between going into the international relations industry right after graduation or going straight to graduate school.

What are your future plans?
My dream is to work in transatlantic relations, focusing on France or Poland, and I want to get involved with diplomacy and research either through the U.S. Foreign Service or through an internationally focused think tank.

How has your FIRST experience impacted your post-graduation life?
In addition to my leadership role on Team 4828 in regard to presentations and team relations, my team won the Gold Prize in the FedEx Innovation Challenge (at the 2016 FIRST Championship) and that really inspired me to run with my people skills. A feature of our FedEx submission was a “commercial” that showcased the international element of FIRST and the fact that teams come from all over the world, something that nurtured my interest in international relations and allowed me to express this interest creatively. Coopertition and Gracious Professionalism have molded me into the person I am today, as in my opinion, both of these qualities are foundational pieces of diplomacy and successful relations with other people and nations.

You’ve continued to be involved with FIRST as an Alum; what have you been up to?
Last season on the weekends I mentored the team I used to compete with, which was so cool to see all the new kids who are just as passionate as I was at that age. Since I am in Washington, D.C., now and not in North Carolina, me and a few other alums have been in constant communication with the current team members to work on presentations with the judges and for them to practice their Chairman’s Award interview.

You shared that you’ve established a great network within the FIRST community – any advice to current participants on how to do that?
There is nothing like the family that you have within your own team. Keep in touch with everyone on your team. As we all get older, everyone will be meeting interesting people and creating connections that we can use to find new opportunities. Also, your team mentors are amazing resources (as we all know), and you should always stay in touch with them no matter how long it has been. I am lucky as my dad was one of my head mentors, but I always go back to visit and maintain my relationship with the other mentors who shaped my FIRST experience.

I wish I had made a bigger effort back when I was competing in FIRST Robotics Competition to network more with the judges and the other mentors of teams in my region, as they are all also industry leaders who are well-connected. I would advise current participants to take advantage of the moments they have to interact with them and form relationships that will allow you to meet more people and learn about unique opportunities.

Visit firstinspires.org/alumni for more FIRST Alumni spotlights. Share your story for a chance to be featured.


The Whole Child Curriculum Hidden in STEM Project-Based Learning

Apr 05, 2018 By Jonathan Carpenter, M.A.Ed, M.Ed. Admin, Fourth-Grade Teacher


STEM-oriented project-based learning can have a remarkable impact on developing a student’s skills and confidence – not just in STEM, but also in reading, writing, researching, and social-emotional learning. Fourth-grade teacher Jonathan Carpenter shares how FIRST LEGO League Jr. helped his students grow.

These STEM Enthusiasts Will Give You a Front Row Seat to Inspiration

Apr 02, 2018 By FIRST Staff


Meet three STEM enthusiasts who will provide a front row seat to all the action happening at the 2018 FIRST Championship Presented by Qualcomm Incorporated. Twitch personalities DeeJayKnight and Skylias and FIRST Alum Emma Dumont share what excites them about STEM, community, and FIRST Championship.

INSPIRATION IS EVERWHERE

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FIRST Alum Cameron Schriner

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FIRST creates friendships and connections

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Cameron Schriner

FIRST Alum, Volunteer, and Mentor

FIRST Alum Cameron Schriner found lifelong friendships and a passion for helping kids succeed while part of his FIRST Robotics Competition Team 832 Chimera (O.S.C.A.R) in Atlanta, Georgia. He is currently head referee for FIRST LEGO League in Georgia. “The kids I work with are teaching me as much as I am teaching them,” he says.

What did you do after becoming a FIRST Alum?
I attended Georgia Tech at the Savannah Campus and majored in mechanical engineering. I got connected with a summer camp working for Georgia Teach CEISMC (Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing). Through this initial camp, I then created more camps around the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT. I was training kids for competition, teaching programming, and mentoring teams.

What are your future plans?
As a referee, I have heard so many stories from teams that want to build these awesome robots, but they tell me they can’t because they don’t have enough funding. In the future, I would like to assist teams with ways they can get the funding in order to build these robots, or to find a way to build robots on a budget!

How has your FIRST experience impacted your post-graduation life?
I met my best friend while he was my high school team mentor; he actually just got married, and I was in his wedding. Aside from meeting some great people, I have learned how to work with others on a team. Before I was involved with FIRST, I was very quiet and reserved and my team helped me break out and feel comfortable with participating on a team.

You’ve continued to be involved with FIRST as an alum; what have you been up to?
Through the many connections I have made with others associated with FIRST, I became a FIRST LEGO League referee for Georgia and now am the head referee for the state. I have stayed involved with FIRST LEGO League since college. I like FIRST, but I love FIRST LEGO League! The kids I work with are teaching me as much as I am teaching them.

Do you have any advice to current participants on how to establish a great network within the FIRST community?
My advice to participants is that any team can always use some extra help. My first year with my FIRST Robotics Competition team at Peachtree Regional, I was sitting in the pit alone, and Woodie Flowers walked over to me and asked me why I was sitting there alone. I told him I didn’t know enough to help. Woodie then spent 30 minutes with me explaining to me that I don’t have to “know” how to help. From there on, I would go around the pits at every event and offer help wherever I could because I wanted to help others win.

Visit firstinspires.org/alumni for more FIRST Alumni spotlights. Share your story for a chance to be featured.


Meeting in the Middle with Distance Learning

Mar 26, 2018 By Frank McCallum, Principal, Alberta Distance Learning Centre


A unique partnership in Alberta, Canada, provided distance learning opportunities grounded in STEM to remote First Nations communities. Frank McCallum, principal of the Alberta Distance Learning Centre, shares how distance learning bridges a barrier to STEM access.

How One Teacher Guided His Students to Give Back with a Design Thinking Challenge

Mar 20, 2018 By FIRST Staff


Science teacher Peter Graven leads his Wisconsin school districts’ robotics program and encourages students to take on STEM-based projects that give back. Peter discusses the design thinking challenge his students undertook to build a robotic medical cart for a young girl with special needs. 

INSPIRATION IS EVERWHERE

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FIRST Alum Troy Douglas

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FIRST inspires volunteers who shape the future generation

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Troy Douglas

FIRST Alum, Volunteer, Mentor

FIRST Alum Troy Douglas participated on FIRST Robotics Competition Team 270, the Deer Park Falcons, from Deer Park, New York, which helped solidify his path toward engineering. Now working alongside FIRST Alumni as a customer solutions mechanical engineer at Festo, Troy gives back as a volunteer and mentor, helping shape future generations of students on Long Island, New York. “The best part of mentoring and volunteering is the ability to give back the unique experience of working alongside professionals to achieve a common goal,” Troy says.

What did you do after becoming a FIRST Alum?
I graduated from high school in 2006 after being on my FIRST Robotics Competition team for four years. After graduation I went to Suffolk County Community College for two years and received my associate degree in engineering science, before continuing to Stony Brook University in their accelerated (five-year) Bachelor of Engineering/Master of Science program in mechanical engineering. I chose this path because on Long Island, Stony Brook is where it’s at for engineering, and starting at Suffolk helped alleviate some of the cost of going to school for so long.

Since 2014, I have been working at Festo (a FIRST Robotics Competition Gold Supplier), where I am currently a customer solutions mechanical engineer and where I get to work with lots of other FIRST Alumni.

You’ve continued to be involved with FIRST as an Alum; what have you been up to?
I’ve stayed really, really involved with FIRST on Long Island. On Long Island, we have development councils to help manage and execute all four FIRST programs. I serve on each council to help support and plan events across the island.

I’m also involved as a volunteer across three of the four FIRST programs. I’m the Long Island head referee for FIRST LEGO League, the field manager for FIRST Tech Challenge, and a head referee for FIRST Robotics Competition as well. Plus, I mentor three FIRST Robotics Competition teams (shout outs to 6806, 6882, and 1468!).

What advice do you have for other FIRST Alumni who want to get involved as FIRST volunteers and/or mentors?
Just jump in!  Whether its mentoring your old team, a new team, or volunteering at events, the best part of mentoring and volunteering is the ability to give back the unique experience of working alongside professionals to achieve a common goal.  The reason why I keep volunteering really is because of the students. What I love about the programs is getting to see that moment when a student who never thought something was possible, look back on the season and see how far they’ve come and where their FIRST journey can take them.  One of my favorite memories was at the end of a FIRST Robotics Competition build season, I had a parent come up to me and tell me that her son couldn’t stop talking about how I taught him how to use a milling machine -- a student that, prior to FIRST, had almost no experience with tools but now couldn’t keep his hands off of them. FIRST really is more than just robots.  The FIRST programs represent a journey to instill confidence, teamwork, passion and Gracious Professionalism to help shape the future generation.

How has your FIRST experience impact your post-graduation life?
I’ve made so many friends (including my current girlfriend) through FIRST.  Two of my heroes back in high school were the coach of our team (Chuck Burg) and one of the mentors (Paul “Pak” Keker).  Looking back at how they were able to help me grow as a person over my four years on my FIRST Robotics Competition team really inspired me to do more after I graduated. When I entered high school, I knew that I liked to tinker and take things apart to see how they worked.  FIRST really solidified that the path that I wanted to go into was engineering.  Now, I get to design systems used for factory automation around the globe.

You shared that you’ve made and kept great FIRST friends/established a great network within the FIRST community. Any advice to current participants on how to do that?
Stay engaged!  Try to connect with your local FIRST Alumni group.  If you don’t have one, create one!  FIRST is also an amazing networking tool.  I have met so many great contacts just by mentioning my FIRST experience and knowledge of the four programs. The most important thing is to enjoy every moment of it and take advantage of every opportunity that comes with it.

Visit firstinspires.org/alumni for more FIRST Alumni spotlights. Share your story for a chance to be featured.


5 Ways to Spur Student Growth and Opportunity Through Hands-On STEM

Mar 06, 2018 By Donald E. Bossi, President of FIRST


Originally published on The Teaching Channel’s Tchers’ Voice blog, FIRST President Don Bossi shares easy-to-adapt strategies for implementing new STEM programs or curriculum and making the most of hands-on learning in the classroom.