Get ready to take center stage! This year, FIRST^® Tech Challenge students will compete using their STEM skills in a one-of-a-kind art-inspired robotics season. The 2023-2024 FIRST^® IN SHOW^SM season presented by Qualcomm – now open for registration for all programs in the FIRST Dashboard – is shining the spotlight on the roles our STEM skills play in the arts and design to build a world of endless possibilities.   

We’re raising the curtain on the 2023-24 FIRST Tech Challenge game, CENTERSTAGE^SM presented by RTX, at the season kickoff celebration and game reveal on Saturday, September 9, at 12:00 p.m. ET. Students around the world are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge. The season launch will be streamed LIVE on the FIRST Tech Challenge YouTube channel. Sign up for a tune-in reminder or find a local kickoff event.   

Learn more about the CENTERSTAGE season >> 

Whether you are a new or returning FIRST Tech Challenge team, having a CENTERSTAGE partial game set and scoring elements can help your team take the spotlight. Enter the FIRST Tech Challenge 2023 Kickoff Sweepstakes and you could be one of four winners.

Get the sweepstakes details >>

Wondering where to start with community outreach on your FIRST team? In this guest blog from FIRST^® Robotics Competition Team 1511 “Rolling Thunder,” you’ll find a guide that outlines how to connect with your community through impactful outreach that will in turn help sustain your team.  

Read about connecting with your community in impactful and sustainable ways on the Community Blog >>  

FIRST has awarded STEM Equity Community Innovation grants to five outstanding community organizations to directly support students from underserved and underrepresented communities and help community leaders develop new, innovative approaches to close the STEM education gap. Since the grant launched in 2016, FIRST has awarded 83 grants totaling $3M to grantees around the world. Grantees will receive resources and support from FIRST as they develop their community-wide programs incorporating FIRST. 

Learn more about the 2023 FIRST STEM Equity Community Innovation Grant award winners >> 

Each year, volunteers around the globe go above and beyond to positively impact our FIRST students and FIRST community. The FIRST Volunteer of the Year award, nominated by our Program Delivery Partners, is a way for FIRST to recognize those volunteers. The 2022 – 2023 award recipients are Nicole and Nathan Coulombe; Teresa Lanum; Chris Johannesen; and Ali Marinari. 

Learn more about our 2023 Volunteers of the Year >> 

Walt Disney Imagineering recently shared their excitement for the new FIRST season on the Disney Parks blog. “Creativity is at the core of what we do at Walt Disney Imagineering, which is why so many of us love serving as mentors for FIRST teams!” wrote Andy Milluzzi, Ride Control Engineering, Walt Disney Imagineering. 

Read more on the Disney Parks Blog >>