FIRST Inspires: My Story
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I learned to thrive in ever-changing environments
Jillian Bejtlich
FIRST® Alum & Volunteer
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Bringing STEM engagement to disadvantaged youth through community-based organizations
STEM Equity Grantees
FIRST Youth-Serving Organizations
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Gaining exposure and access to higher education
Carrie Ruddle
Pendleton County (West Virginia) 4-H
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Bringing schools together for STEM success
Heather Naviasky
Regional Manager of School Partnerships, the Y of Central Maryland
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Robotics opens doors for rural young women
Carolyn White
Grant and Public Support Manager, Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming
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FIRST is about constantly growing, learning, and improving
Connor Tinker
FIRST Alum, Volunteer, & Mentor
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Building STEM culture in Compton
Michael Kurinsky
Administrator of Educational Services-Secondary, Compton Unified School District
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Transformative learning through robotics
Melissa Jackson
Grants Manager, Boys and Girls Haven, Kentucky
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Strategies for creating STEM engagement opportunities in high-poverty schools
STEM Equity Grantees
FIRST School Districts
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I’m building leadership skills as a FIRST mentor
Max Goldstein
FIRST Alum & Mentor
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FIRST taught me how to learn from my peers
Hans Mueller
FIRST Alum & Volunteer
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Teacher inspires a culture change through high school robotics and crowdfunding
Monique Dituri
FIRST Robotics Competition Mentor & STEM Teacher, Clifton High School, NJ
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I’m still learning new job skills as a FIRST mentor
Rachel Clark
FIRST Alum and Mentor
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FIRST mentors change students’ lives
D. Scott Heister
Mentor, FIRST Robotics Competition Team 66 “Grizzly Robotics”; Ypsilanti STEMM Middle College Director, Michigan
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FIRST mentor leads students into brighter futures
Chelsey Roebuck
FIRST Alum, FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1218; Mentor, FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1660; Co-founder, Emerging Leaders in Technology and Engineering (ELiTE)
FIRST helped me gain confidence to launch a manufacturing startup
Max Friefeld
FIRST Alum, FIRST Robotics Competition Team 687; Co-founder, Voodoo Manufacturing