FIRST^® Robotics Competition team registration opens on Tuesday, October 6. Recognizing ongoing challenges for teams with remote and hybrid learning, limited access to build spaces, tools, and robots, as well as uncertainty for traveling to and attending in-person events, we are excited to introduce new opportunities for FIRST Robotics Competition teams to participate this season. Read the latest Inspire Blog post for more information from FIRST^® HQ on what we have in store for the 2021 FIRST Robotics Competition season.

We have been evaluating different scenarios for all our programs over the past many months and have already implemented several changes to provide every student participant a valuable, enjoyable experience, regardless of learning environment, during the FIRST^® GAME CHANGERS^SM powered by Star Wars: Force for Change season.

With the launch of the FIRST^® LEGO^® League and FIRST^® Tech Challenge seasons, we’ve introduced Remote Events for regions unable to hold in-person competitions. Also, we recently announced an extension to our season to provide additional time and flexibility to start build seasons and prepare for local and remote events. Catch up on the updates and latest guidelines on our COVID-19 page.

Thanks to the support of our generous sponsors, FIRST is proud to continue its commitment to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in STEM education. For a fourth consecutive year, we can offer FIRST STEM Equity Community Innovation Grants to several communities across North America. The 2020 FIRST STEM Equity Community Innovation Grant award winners include organizations from Canada’s Yukon Territory to Puerto Rico.

FIRST establishes valuable national Alliance relationships with a network of like-minded organizations that are committed to programming that ignites young minds and advocating for access to STEM education opportunities. We’re excited to announce the newest FIRST Alliance is SIM (Society for Information Management) Foundation. Welcome!

The new partnership will engage SIM members – a network of thousands of IT business leaders – as mentors, coaches, volunteers, and fundraisers for FIRST programs with the common goal of promoting STEM education to students, including girls and underrepresented groups. SIM Foundation has also named FIRST as the primary beneficiary of the upcoming SIM Foundation Virtual V.I.P. Networking Reception during SIM’s National Giveback Week on Friday, November 6. Thank you to the SIM Foundation for designating FIRST as the beneficiary for this event and joining us in this meaningful long-term partnership.

From the early beginnings of FIRST until his very last days, Dr. Woodie Flowers, FIRST Executive Advisory Board Chair Emeritus and Distinguished Advisor, was an incredible supporter of our mission, a friend to everyone he met, and an inspiration to our students, alumni, mentors, volunteers, supporters, and staff. 

As the anniversary of his death approaches, we invite the entire FIRST Community to celebrate and honor his legacy by participating in Walk Like Woodie Day, founded by Camdenton LASER. While we strive to walk like Woodie every day, this day serves as a day of remembrance. Together, we’ll share our fondest memories, acts of Gracious Professionalism^®, Woodie’s impact, and how we plan to carry on his legacy. Join us on Monday, October 12, and share your words, thoughts, photos, and videos on social media using #WalkLikeWoodie.

Pollinators are in trouble. By one estimate, some 40% of insect pollinators worldwide are at risk of extinction, especially bees and butterflies. But FIRST LEGO League students Luke Marston and Joshua Nichols have set out to change this statistic, starting in their home city of Newport News, Virginia. Read how these young innovators are working to increase bee populations with their 13-mile long "Bee-Byway”on HuffPost.