Celebrating Young Innovators, Volunteers, and a Game-Changing Season

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	FIRST^® taught me how to solve problems that don’t have neat answers
	By taking on job roles within their teams, FIRST^® students learn and use skills such as leadership, critical thinking, problem solving and innovation – skills highly in-demand by today’s biggest industries. FIRST alum and donor Ajay Penmatcha knows that well. His career path as a software engineer began when he joined his Iowa high school’s FIRST^® Tech Challenge team. The value of his FIRST experience inspired him to give back as a donor. Read Ajay’s donor story and tips for future FIRST alumni.


	New Christa McAuliffe coin to help fund education
	Ahead of Teacher Appreciation Week, ABC affiliate WMUR featured FIRST and the 2021 Christa McAuliffe Silver Dollar coin on NH Chronicle. The full segment featured interviews with FIRST Founder Dean Kamen, Christa's former students, and Merrimack High School's FIRST^® Robotics Competition Team 166 "Chop Shop." Watch now to learn more about Christa's legacy and how the commemorative coin helps support our programs.

Congratulations, innovation semi-finalists!

FIRST teams around the world took on the 2021 FIRST^® Innovation Challenge presented by Qualcomm and the FIRST^® LEGO^® League Challenge Innovation Project with a confidence, determination, and innovative spirit that fueled them forward. We are excited to celebrate the FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competition semi-finalist teams who are one step closer to the Global Innovation Awards powered by Star Wars: Force for Change in June.

FIRST is partnering with Cheddar News to highlight some of the team innovations. Our game-changing students will be showcased in a Young Inventors series, kicking off soon on the network.

A special thank you for FIRST volunteers

In honor of Global Volunteer Month, we're extending our gratitude to all game-changing FIRST volunteers. Thank you for rallying around teams, continuing to deliver on the mission of FIRST, and helping to #CHAMPIONTHEGAME this season. Watch members of the FIRST community celebrate your impact.


	A great grad gift
	Celebrate your graduating seniors with the official FIRST Alumni Graduation Pack or Alumni Desk Gift Set, now available on the FIRST Merch Store! Give your graduating seniors a truly memorable FIRST memento to take with them wherever they go. Congratulations to the Class of 2021!

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