We’re celebrating 32 years of FIRST, Christa McAuliffe’s legacy, and game-changing voices.

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Join us in celebrating 32 years of FIRST^® on March 20

In 1989, “STEM” wasn’t even a term. The World Wide Web was just invented. Robotics wasn’t an afterschool activity, let alone a sport for the mind. But that year, inventor Dean Kamen had his greatest game-changing idea: FIRST^®. On March 20, 1989, Dean set in motion a movement to transform our culture to one where science and technology are celebrated, and young people dream of becoming leaders in those fields as much as they do of becoming athletes and entertainers.

We’ve come a long way in 32 years: Our inclusive global robotics community includes 110+ countries. STEM education is top of mind for educators, industry leaders and policy makers. Diverse innovators are more widely celebrated. And FIRST students and alumni are solving incredible challenges in their schools, workplaces and communities – including, this past year, in the fight against COVID-19.

We’re forever grateful to our tireless mentors, coaches, volunteers, alumni, sponsors, fundraisers and donors who support our mission wholeheartedly and have transformed the lives of a generation of young people. Let’s keep working together to make FIRST available to every kid, everywhere.

Donate to fuel our mission and help us celebrate many more anniversaries to come.


	Teaching the future: Christa McAuliffe’s legacy
	On the 35th anniversary year of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion, “Teacher in Space” Christa McAuliffe’s legacy remains a reflection of the incredible impact teachers have on their students – and therefore, the future. With the launch of the 2021 Christa McAuliffe Silver Dollar coin, we’re celebrating Christa as an educator and those she inspires on the FIRST Inspire blog.

A new way to RePLAY^SM

To help engage more students in the FIRST^® LEGO^® League Challenge RePLAY^SM season, coaches and Class Pack educators can access lessons on Google Classroom and bring the excitement of STEM to their students wherever they are learning this year. Special thank you to FIRST^® Robotics Competition LAUNCH TEAM 6532 for helping to create the Google Classroom materials. Download the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Guide for Distance Education for how to use these new materials and get in the game!

Each student will need a LEGO^® Education robot and three (3) RePLAY Mission Models from the RePLAY Challenge Set to participate. Additional Challenge Sets and Mats can be purchased through the FIRST Dashboard. U.S.-based educators can create projects on DonorsChoose.org to fund the purchase of additional LEGO robots thanks to a collaboration and generous funding from Disney.


	2021 FIRST Championship Update
	Due to health, safety and international travel conditions created by the ongoing pandemic, FIRST has made the decision to cancel the 2021 FIRST Championship events in Houston and Detroit. Read our full announcement.


	Celebrating game-changing voices in our community
	Representation in STEM fields and celebrating our differences is critical for building the next diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. At FIRST, we know creating access to opportunity for all young people is necessary for designing creative and innovative solutions for the world’s challenges. On the Inspire blog, Dr. Janell N. Catlin, Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at FIRST, share how we can use Black History Month and Women's History Month to reflect more deeply on our impact as a society.


	Deck out your desk
	Make your desk the topic of video calls with these must-have FIRST tech accessories available on the FIRST Store. Whether you’re working or gaming, repping FIRST has never looked so good. Bring these incredible items home with you by visiting the FIRST Store and show us how your desk is decked out in FIRST swag by using the hashtag #FIRSTGAMECHANGERS.

Learn more about the Christa McAuliffe Silver Dollar Coin

www.firstinspires.org

OUR VISION: “...to transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders.”
— Dean Kamen, Founder