We’re excited to announce the launch of a new tool for our community that showcases the power of our programs: the FIRST^® Robotics Virtual Reality Experience Powered by Boeing, a 360 video allowing viewers to see first-hand the life-changing impacts and excitement of FIRST. While we recommend viewing the virtual reality video with an VR headset, it can also be accessed directly on your desktop or mobile device (click/scroll to view in 360). To enter the experience, please visit firstinspires.org/vr

Building a routine and classroom culture is the most important element of having a safe, successful and fun educational experience. In our latest Inspire blog post, the FIRST Education team shares 5 fun and creative ways to keep students engaged in learning, no matter what school looks like this year.

We’ve adapted our FIRST Professional Development courses to be offered remotely and through online collaboration tools that will help adult coaches and mentors build a foundation to deliver our robotics programs and create an engaging, positive learning environment for every student.

FIRST announced the election of two new members to the FIRST Board of Directors: Ursula Burns, former Xerox and VEON CEO, and Raj Subramaniam, President and Chief Operating Officer of FedEx Corp., a FIRST Strategic Partner.

The new Executive Advisory Board leaders, also valued FIRST Strategic Partners, include: Charlie Ackerman, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, North America, The Bosch Group; Cate Prescott, Global Vice President of Human Resources, NI; and FIRST alum Dr. Melissa Smith, PhD, Senior User Experience Researcher, Google.

Welcome to all!

Join DeejayKnight and FIRST alum Sarah Fogwell for the FIRST^® Tech Challenge Kickoff show on FIRSTtv on Saturday, September 12, at 12pm ET. Watch for messages from special guests, a field walk through, and, of course, the game reveal of ULTIMATE GOAL^SM presented by Qualcomm. Sign up for a reminder so you don’t miss any of the excitement.

Show off your FIRST and Star Wars fandom with exclusive FIRST^® GAME CHANGERS^℠, powered by Star Wars: Force for Change, apparel and accessories available in the FIRST Store.

"Once I saw my team members learning, I really didn't care if we won the trophy or not. I saw what the girls are capable of. I saw what I'm capable of. So, I left feeling accomplished."

Tania and her fellow FIRST team members at the Young Women's Leadership School of Astoria received the 2018-2019 FIRST STEM Equity Community Innovation Grant, making it possible for them to introduce hundreds of girls from underserved communities to STEM. Watch this throwback video to hear more of Tania's story and her team's motivation behind applying for the grant, and stay tuned for the announcement of this year's grant recipients in the coming months!

Despite the challenges and uncertainty surrounding the upcoming school year, we are dedicated to ensuring that FIRST programs remain available and accessible to all. Erica Newton Fessia, VP of Global Field Operations at FIRST, shared opportunities available to students, parents, and teachers during a segment for NBC's LX.