"...to create a world where science and technology are celebrated...
where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes..."
-- Dean Kamen, FIRST Founder
FIRST was conceptualized by inventor Dean Kamen to provide students with the opportunity to discover the unique challenges and rewards associated with engineering and research, while retaining the excitement and teamwork inherent in a sports game. FIRST now organizes several competitions for all ages, from the Junior FIRST Lego League to the FIRST Robotics Competition.
Every year, the FIRST Robotics Competition reveals a new game, and with it, a host of new challenges for teams to work with. In the six weeks following Kickoff (which we watch live from New Hampshire) teams composed of students and mentors build a robot, finding innovative ways to meet the tests FIRST has posed them. Teams are rewarded for their innovation, entrepreneurship, spirit, and above all for their impact on those around them. The Chairman's Award, FIRST's highest honor, is given to those teams dedicated to spreading the message of FIRST and who use science to help others.
Team 2090 is proud to have supported the growth and success of FIRST in the State of Hawaii. Team leader Aaron Dengler was one of the founders of the Hawaii FIRST LEGO League Championship. The team has sponsored numerous workshops in the 2009 season: a series of three LabView workshops for FRC mentors, workshops for FLL New Coaches, Referees, and Judges training.
Many colleges and universities offer scholarships to high school students who have participated on FIRST teams. FIRST scholarships enable students to pursue majors and careers in engineering, computer science, science, math, design, aeronautics, and many other fields. In 2009, the FIRST Scholarship Program provides over $9 million in college scholarships, with over 600 individual scholarship opportunities.
For more information of FIRST Scholarships visit http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc/content.aspx?id=508
The JFLL is where kids ages six through nine can become young scientists. Using kits of Lego parts, the kids form teams, build robots, and research real-world issues. They catalogue their journey, and learn the fun involved with science, teamwork, and mentorship as their teachers guide them. Jr. FLL participants also gain confidence and a jumpstart an interest in science, technology, and the world around them. You can find more information at the Junior FIRST Lego League web site.
A step up from the JFLL, the Lego League puts together teams of kids ages nine to fourteen (sixteen if outside the USA and Canada), who build autonomous robots from Lego Mindstorm kits. They also research and solve a real-world problem as part of their yearly Challenge. Every participant gets a hands-on experience like no other as they think and solve problems like real engineers while working in a team and improving their knowledge and self-confidence. Click here to find out more about the FLL.
The FTC provides an affordable competition for high school teams. RadioShack and FIRST worked together in 2005 to unveil the original FIRST Vex Challenge (the name was later changed to FIRST Tech Challenge), which uses a Vex kit of parts to build robots designed for accomplishing different tasks. No longer a pilot program, the FTC has become a fully fledged FIRST competition with over eight thousand students becoming involved in the first year alone. Click here for more information on the FTC.
The FIRST Robotics Competition is a "varsity sport" for the mind. The FRC challenges high school students to build a robot over an intense six week build season. The teams learn from mentors, use a standard 'kit of parts' sent to every team, and write their own websites, create animated videos, mentor other teams, and most of all impact their communities while spreading the message of FIRST.
The Junior FIRST Lego League
The FIRST LEGO League
The FIRST Tech Challenge
FIRST Scholarships
Thus, FIRST is not really about the robots--it's about the people who build them. Gracious Professionalism is the catchphrase of FIRST permeates the organization, from the willingness of competing teams to lend each other parts, to the services to the community all teams try to do, from fixing electric wheelchairs to collecting books for local charity drives. Winning the game is far less important than the way participants treat each other, the bonds made between team members and their mentors, and the impact that FIRST has on the lives of those who partake in it.
This year, the name of the game challenge is Lunacy. Check out this year's competition with the animation of basic game play, originally presented at the New Hampshire Kickoff on January 3, 2009. Dean Kamen also challenged teams with a new homework task--to compile a database of every FIRST alumnus.
Good luck to all the teams--2090 wishes you a wonderful and challenging 2009 season!
