In “Bridging the Gap,” HuffPost explores the power of mentorship and paying it forward for women in STEM and how FIRST^® is continuing to bridge the gender gap. 

"Our place in STEM was oftentimes dismissed. It’s critical to have women in the space being mentors and coaches so young girls and women can say to themselves, ‘Well, if she can do it, then I can do it,'" Dr. Janell N. Catlin, Director of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion at FIRST, said.

FIRST alumni Kate Sample and Cam Hallett have been experiencing the incredible impact of FIRST for as long as they can remember. They're dedicated to providing that same impact to younger generations as FIRST volunteers.

“To work with others towards the common goal of providing exciting STEM experiences for youth, there is no greater joy... students who I know will go on to change the world,” Kate Sample said.

In celebration of Global Volunteer Month, Kate and Cam shared their recent remote volunteering experiences and how they used the FIRST Mentor Network, sponsored by NI, to connect with each other and support students in developing new skills.

For National Robotics Week, we took a behind-the-scenes look at robotics use across industries to show the FIRST community how STEM skills can be applied to a myriad of future career opportunities. On Beyond the Bots^SM, MSgt Miller from the U.S. Air Force, Aaron Prather from FedEx, and Asa Kalama from Walt Disney Imagineering sat down with FIRST alumni Libby Kamen and Karthik Kanagasabapathy to discuss how their companies are finding innovative ways to incorporate robotics within the workplace. Watch the episode on the FIRST YouTube page.

With graduation around the corner, there’s no better time to shop the official FIRST graduation look! Stand out and feel proud on the big day with a number of FIRST-branded graduation items, including a tassel and charm, earrings, cord, belt, scrunchies, and more! Visit the FIRST Merch Store today and congratulations to the Class of 2021!