FIRST® is the world’s leading youth-serving nonprofit advancing STEM education. FIRST stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology” and was founded by inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen in 1989. By incorporating hands-on robotic-based projects focused on math, science, and engineering principles, his goal to inspire young people to further explore new and developing technologies and develop valuable soft skills for the future.
For over 30 years, FIRST has combined the rigor of STEM learning with the fun and excitement of traditional sports and the inspiration that comes from community through programs that have a proven impact on learning, interest, and skill-building inside and outside of the classroom.
Global Reach (All numbers are for the 2019-2020 FIRST® RISESM, powered by Star Wars: Force for Change, season)
• 679,000+ students
• 320,000+ mentor, coach, judge, and volunteer roles filled
2020 FIRST® Robotics Competition: Grades 9-12 (ages 14-18)
• 97,850 students
• 3,914 individual teams
2019-2020 FIRST® Tech Challenge: Grades 7-12 (ages 12-18)
• 77,000+ students
• 7,610 individual teams; 61 Class Packs
2019-2020 FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge: Grades 4-8 (ages 9-16; age varies by country)
• 318,000+ students
• 38,609 individual teams; 404 Class Packs
2019-2020 FIRST® LEGO® League Explore: Grades 2-4 (ages 6-10)
• 163,000+ children
• 21,703 individual teams; 337 Class Packs; 236 School Packs
2019-2020 FIRST® LEGO® League Explore & Discover: Grades PreK-1 (ages 4-6)
• 21,600+ children
• 4,562 Class Packs
2020 FIRST Scholarship Program
• Over $80 million in college, university, and technical program scholarships
• 3,000 individual scholarship opportunities
• 200+ scholarship providers
2020 FIRST Volunteers & Sponsors
• 320,000+ volunteer roles filled
• FIRST sponsors include more than 200 of the Fortune 500 companies
Arizona is host to the full FIRST pipeline of programs that reach K-12 students in the state. FIRST® LEGO® League has partnered with Arizona State University in Tempe, while FIRST® Tech Challenge has partnered with Northern Arizona University and Coconino High School in Flagstaff and Microchip Technologies in Chandler manages FIRST® Robotics Competition teams. Our Program Delivery Partners collaborate and have cross-program integration between teams and volunteers alike.