History of FIRST
FIRST was founded in 1989 as a public charity by Dean Kamen, President of DEKA Research & Development Corporation. Since its founding, FIRST has hosted several different programs to engage students in science and technology and the organization has become an international phenomenon. Through FIRST, more than $14 million in scholarships are available. The President of the United States has recognized FIRST in his push for elevated STEM education and FIRST has been honored in blogs, magazines, newspapers, books, and documentaries across the nation.
In the 2010-2011 season, FIRST had a huge number of participants:
- 248,000+ students
- 22,475 teams
- 20,675 robots
- 66,000+ mentors/adult supporters
- 33,000+ event volunteers
The FIRST Robotics Competition
The FIRST Robotics Competition was established in 1992, with 28 teams meeting in New Hampshire. Since then, it has exploded to include thousands of teams, with the numbers growing every year. As a result of its success, FIRST has established other programs for the FRC off-season and for students not yet in high school.
The highest honor offered in the FIRST Robotics Competition is the Chairman's Award, which celebrates the team which most successfully spreads FIRST's core values and interest in science and technology. The recipient team of this award is the best role model for other teams to emulate, embodying the goals of FIRST in one neat package.
FIRST Lego League
FIRST Lego League was created in 1998 in incorporate children from grades 4 to 8 into the FIRST community. Innovative projects encourage students to do research and learn about specific areas of science and technology. Students look into a single subject, doing something of a "science project" on it, creating flyers detailing their findings, and building Lego models of the subjects. In recent years, these models have been in motion: cars driving past the objects of observation or energy systems in action.
FLL games have included:
1998 - Pilot Year
1999 - FIRST Contact
2000 - Volcanic Panic
2001 - Arctic Impact
2002 - City Sights
2003 - Mission Mars
2004 - No Limits
2005 - Ocean Odyssey
2006 - Nano Quest
2007 - Power Puzzle
2008 - Climate Connections
2009 - Smart Move
2010 - Body Forward
2011 - Food Factor
The highest honor offered in the FIRST Lego League is the Champion's Award, which celebrates teams that show the most Gracious Professionalism, and that inspire other students to take an interest in science and technology, problem solving, and being respectful.
Jr. FIRST Lego League
The Junior FIRST Lego League was created in 2004 to involve even younger students from Kindergarten to 3rd grade. These challenges are designed similarly to the FLL challenges to inspire children's interest in science and technology.
Jr. FLL games have included:
2004 - No Limits
2005 - Ocean Odyssey
2006 - Nano Quest
2007 - Power Puzzle
2008 - Climate Connections
2009 - Smart Move
2010 - Body Forward
2011 - Snack Attack
FIRST Tech Challenge
The FIRST Tech Challenge is a high school level competition, established in 2005, separate from the FIRST Robotics Competition.
FTC games have included:
2005 - Demonstration
2006 - Pilot Half-Pipe Hustle
2006 - Hangin'-A-Round
2007 - Quad Quandary
2008 - Face Off!
2009 - Hot Shot!
2010 - Get Over It
The highest honor offered in the FIRST Tech Challenge is the Inspire Award, which honors the team that the judges and other competitors deem the most desirable alliance partner. Recipient teams perform well in all categories of challenge and exemplify the values of FIRST and FTC.
