Hi ,

In this week's blast:

⚙️ Team Updates 
⚙️ FIRST^® Choice 
⚙️ FIRST^® Robotics Competition Blog Updates 
⚙️ Dean’s List Award Guide Resource 
⚙️ Upcoming Important Dates 
⚙️ Other FIRST Updates

Program Updates, Deadlines, & Reminders

Team Updates: Team Update 03 has been posted! Please check out the Season Materials page often for Team Updates released throughout the season, or sign up to receive email notifications when new Team Updates are posted.

FIRST^® Choice: Regular Ordering opens Friday, January 30, at 12:00 p.m. ET. The open ordering phase of FIRST Choice is a traditional first-come, first-served ordering process. Teams add items to their carts and check-out using credits remaining after the previous rounds.

FIRST Robotics Competition Blog Updates:   

✏️ 2026 FIRST Championship Updates 

Resource of the Week: Is your team planning to submit for the Dean’s List Award? Be sure to check out our Dean’s List Award Guide which assists teams in preparing for the submission and for participating in the Dean’s List Award interview. It contains information on the Dean's List Award, best practices for writing the submission and preparing for the interview, and more. 

Upcoming Important Dates:

⚙️ Friday, January 30, at 12:00 p.m. ET – FIRST Choice Regular Ordering Opens
⚙️ Thursday, February 5, at 3:00 p.m. ET – Dean’s List Award Application Closes and Woodie Flowers Award Application Closes 
⚙️ Thursday, February 12, at 3:00 p.m. ET – FIRST Impact Award Application Closes 

Other FIRST Updates:

Update: Future of FIRST Championship: FIRST announced earlier today the extension of its partnership with Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center, securing it as the venue for FIRST Championship through 2034, promising an expanded and enhanced event experience. Read more about this decision on the FIRST Community Blog. 

National Advocacy Conference by the Student Association for STEM Advocacy: For 13 years, FIRST teams from across the United States have attended the Student Association for STEM Advocacy’s (SASA) National Advocacy Conference (NAC) in Washington, D.C. to learn federal advocacy skills and promote STEM and robotics education. Students participate in training, practice advocacy with experienced mentors, network with teams nationwide, and meet with Members of Congress to build confidence and public speaking skills. Join SASA at NAC from June 21 - June 23, 2026; learn more and register or email staff@mysasa.org. 

By registering for the event through the SASA site, you will be asked to supply personal data to SASA. This data will be subject to SASA’s privacy policy. You should review SASA’s privacy policy and understand how your data will be used before sharing your information.