Hi , 

Here's some updates and news from FIRST^® Tech Challenge.

In this week's blast: 

🌊 2024-2025 Team Webinar Series

📽️ INTO THE DEEP^SM presented by RTX Tech Updates Video

🐙 Submerge into the Competition Resources

💻 Tech Tip of the Week

✅ Register Youth Team Members

🤖 2024-2025 FIRST Tech Challenge New Team Hardship Grant

Team Resource! 
We know it is early, but we are thrilled to announce our team webinar series. Please register and mark your calendars for team-centered webinars starting this October. Check out the schedule and topics here.

Tech Updates Video 
We've uploaded a video that compiles the top tech updates in the Competition Manual for INTO THE DEEP^SM presented by RTX in a concise and clear way. Be sure to share this video with your students to promote a broader understanding of some of the changes for this season.

Watch and share the video on YouTube.

Submerge into the Competition Resources
Check out our latest post on the FIRST^® Community blog for some great resources to help your team stay informed with the most up-to-date resources this season.

Tech Tip of the Week
This week’s Tech Tip of the Week launches a new initiative in FIRST Tech Challenge, an AI Innovation Corner. Generative AI has taken the world by storm, becoming commonplace now in everything from personal assistants, search engines, recipe curation, music innovation, and vehicle maintenance! Machine Learning AI has been a part of FIRST Tech Challenge in some way for the past six years, and we’re now transitioning to help teams learn how to use and incorporate Generative AI in their FIRST Tech Challenge experience (while we’re learning ourselves!).

Check out the full article on the Tech Tips webpage! 

Register Youth Team Members 
The parent or guardian of every youth team member is required to complete the FIRST youth registration process for their participant before they may participate in any organized team activities. This electronic process must be completed prior to the student attending any team meetings or any FIRST events or competitions. For more information and instructions on how to complete the online youth team member registration process, visit the Youth Registration System Overview.  

Express Enrollment: Coaches and mentors in the United States and Canada with completed FIRST Youth Protection Screenings can take advantage of Express Enrollment, which provides a simplified experience on mobile and desktop to register and accept youth to FIRST teams.

View Express Enrollment Coach/Mentor Instructions and the Express Enrollment Parent/Guardian Instructions.

Have questions? Check out our FAQ or contact FIRST Support. 

2024-2025 FIRST Tech Challenge New Team Hardship Grant  
The 2024-2025 FIRST Tech Challenge New Team Hardship Grant is live. Awarded new teams will receive a one-time $750 grant which can be used towards FIRST Tech Challenge season registration and products exclusively the FIRST Tech Challenge Storefront. Please keep in mind that only new FIRST Tech Challenge teams in USA, Mexico, Canada, or USA Military APO may receive this grant and must fit the eligibility requirements stated on the grant page. The next grant cycle ends September 17!