Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepares students to enter the STEM workforce through active, real-world, project-based learning. CTE empowers students and adults by providing them with the academic and technical knowledge, skills, and abilities to be equipped for the workforce and beyond. FIRST^® recently launched a new Classroom to Career webpage, full of resources to help students bridge the gap from curiosity to career confidence.  

Learn more about career awareness, certifications and work-based learning at FIRST >>

It’s #EWeek2024 and this year’s theme, Welcome to the Future, is all about celebrating today’s achievements and paving the way for a brighter and more diverse future in engineering. 

By working together to develop new technologies, products, and opportunities, engineers create new possibilities that make the world a better place. At FIRST, we are energized by all the innovative ways FIRST students are making a difference and creating a brighter future for all. Stay tuned for exciting #PeopleofSTEAM features on engineers! 

For fun and engaging resources to celebrate #EWeek2024 at home and in the classroom, check out our Exploring Engineering Careers Kahoot! created by the FIRST Education team >>

Are you a FIRST alum looking to increase your visibility to employers? Be sure to always keep your FIRST experience on your resume and check out more tips from Ilene Rein, Executive Recruiter and Job Search Strategist at Pounding Pavement 101. What FIRST-gained skills would you share with your interviewer to help you stand out? 

Watch recruiter Ilene Rein's tips >>

"The visual arts world is isolated from how visually impaired persons experience our world, and we have so much to learn here. I look forward to these kids growing up and guiding us further in their pursuits. It is both exciting and humbling.” - Greg Robinson, Chief Curator at Bainbridge Island Museum of Art 

As part of the 2023-2024 MASTERPIECE^SM season, FIRST^® LEGO^® League Team 42 "Watts" developed an innovation aimed to help visually impaired museum visitors become immersed in art. The project, named “Reliefeelable," uses software, hardware, artificial intelligence, and more to generate a tactile version of painting in real time, allowing individuals who are blind or visually impaired to touch and explore art pieces within a museum setting. 

Read more about Team Watts and Reliefeelable >>

Zain is a member of the 2023 Inspire the Future: FIRST Educators Recognition Program cohort, FIRST alum, and a Graduate Design Engineer at SPORTENG.

In celebration of #Eweek2024, we chatted with him about how he makes an impact through his work as an engineer and the advice he has for FIRST students.