About FIRST

History
Values
Games
Scholarships

Vision

"To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders."

- Dean Kamen, Founder

FIRST's programs aim to introduce students to the wonders of technology and engineering. FIRST was founded in 1989. It aspires to "inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership."

This nonprofit organization has gained the interest of schools, businesses, and other organizations worldwide. Its affinity to attract students to science and technology fields perfectly coincides with President Obama's STEM incentive. FIRST Robotics teams exist in all levels of education, throughout the Junior FIRST Lego League, FIRST Lego League, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competition. According to a study conducted by Brandeis University, all of these programs have inspired students to attend college, volunteer, and aspire to majors and careers in engineering.

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