Hi ,

Coming to you from FIRST^® LEGO^® League HQ in Manchester, NH, USA.   

Did you recently register your team? Welcome! Catch up on previous emails here.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“To explore is to embrace the unknown.” 

- William Beebe, Marine Biologist, Explorer, Author 

WHAT’S NEW

Thank you, Coaches & Mentors! We want to give a BIG thank you to each coach and mentor who gives their time and energy to FIRST^® students. In honor of Mentoring Month in January, we are celebrating all the important work you do within our communities, schools, and organizations. 

🤖 Enter our Mentoring Month Raffle: All mentors and coaches are eligible to win a $50 gift code to the FIRST store. One entry per person, raffle is open now until February 1, 2025. Submit for your chance to win! 

🤖 Receive 50% off Coach Mentor pins for a limited time: FIRST^® DIVE^SM Coach Mentor pins are available now along with past seasons while supplies last. Discount automatically applied; no code necessary. Get your discounted Coach Mentor pins today! 

🤖 Share why you mentor: This month we’ll be sharing stories on our blog and social media about our mentors within the FIRST community. Share with us on your social platforms why you mentor with FIRST and the impact you’ve seen in your students with #FIRSTvolunteers. Your post might just get boosted by FIRST! 

Tournament Tips for your Judging Session: Check out our latest blog post to help you and your team dive into their judging sessions. 

FIRST Certified Professional Development: Chart your course for success by signing up for one of our upcoming remote or in-person professional development sessions for FIRST^® LEGO^® League Challenge. More information can be found on our website. If you have questions, email FIRSTProfessionalServices@firstinspires.org. 

REMINDERS

Holiday Hours: FIRST Headquarters will close at 3:00 p.m. ET on Friday, January 17 through Monday, January 20, 2025, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will resume normal hours on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. ET.

An Under the Surface Look at Judging: Discover what makes the FIRST LEGO League judge role so special in our new Spotlight on FIRST LEGO League Judging Video, featuring inspirational testimonials from judges and teams. 

FIRST Championship Conferences- Request for Proposals: FIRST is currently accepting proposals for the 2025 FIRST Championship Conferences that will be running Wednesday - Friday at the event. Learn more and submit an application by January 31. If you have questions, please contact championshipconferences@firstinspires.org.  

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST

Learn how engineers use different solutions to successfully operate ROVs in an unpredictable ocean. 

CELEBRATION AND SHOUTOUTS

What’s your team working on this week? 
Let us know with a tweet @firstlegoleague or a Facebook post, and make sure to use #SUBMERGED!