Hi ,

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

In this week's blast:

☎️ Upcoming Team Webinar Calls

🏆 Ask Me Anything About Animation and Storytelling: Worcester Polytechnic Institute — Webinar 1 of 2 on the FIRST^® Digital Animation Award

🤖 FIRST Tech Challenge Advancement Update

✅ Nominate your Amazing Students for the Dean's List Award

☑️ Request for Conference Proposals – FIRST Championship presented by BAE Systems

Upcoming Team Webinar Calls
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Team Webinar calls!

▪️ Final Dean's List Webinar: December 10, 8:00 p.m. ET. 

▪️ Final Team Judging, Gameplay, and General Support Webinar: December 11, 8:00 p.m. ET

As a reminder, you can review the webinar schedule and past call recordings if you missed a previous webinar.

Ask Me Anything About Animation and Storytelling: Worcester Polytechnic Institute — Webinar 1 of 2 on the FIRST Digital Animation Award
Join students from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Interactive Media and Game Development (IMGD) program on December 16, 7:00–9:00 p.m. ET for a FREE webinar to learn more about animation and storytelling, and to ask questions about submitting an entry for the FIRST Digital Animation Award (submission deadline January. 12, 2026)!

WPI is offering a team grant to the winning team ($2,000 value) and a $1,000 WPI scholarship to ANY student who is a member of a team that submits an entry. Review Digital Animation Award details.

By signing up for the webinar, you will be asked to supply personal data to WPI for this event. This data will be subject to WPI’s privacy policy. You should review WPI’s privacy policy and understand how your data will be used before sharing your information.

FIRST Tech Challenge Advancement Update
Last season, FIRST^® took two steps to increase the number of advancement opportunities for teams by expanding the size of the FIRST Championship and introducing Premier Events.

This season, we’re excited to grow even further by inviting 336 teams to the FIRST Championship and offering more than 600 play opportunities at 12 Premier Events! Learn more about this season's advancement.

Nominate your Amazing Students for the Dean's List Award
You have a student on your team, who above all others, demonstrates leadership, has an entrepreneurial spirit, and is dedicated to increasing awareness of FIRST.

FIRST^® Tech Challenge students are changing the world – help the changemaker on your team further their potential – nominate them for the Dean’s List Award.

The Dean’s List Award recognizes the leaders and ambassadors from each FIRST Tech Challenge team. This recognition helps these inspiring students attract recruiters and stand out on their college applications and resumes. Read the nomination guide and start your nomination today.

Dean's List Award nominations are open and will close on Monday, December 15, 2025, for all FIRST Tech Challenge regions.

Read more about the changes to the Dean's List Award deadlines for the 2025-2026 season, and review the nomination guide for requirements and instructions on how to nominate a deserving student on your team!

Request for Conference Proposals – FIRST Championship presented by BAE Systems
FIRST is currently accepting proposals for the 2026 FIRST Championship presented by BAE Conferences that will be running Wednesday - Friday at our FIRST Championship event.

Students, mentors, educators, coaches, volunteers, staff, and sponsors are welcome to submit a proposal before January 31, 2026, to be considered. Presenters will be notified in late February if they have been selected.

Reach out to the Championship Conferences team with any questions.