FIRST® Tech Challenge Teams to Use Their STEM and Collaboration Skills to Explore Life Beneath the Ocean’s Surface with INTO THE DEEPSM presented by RTX
More than 8,000 Teams of Middle and High-School Students Worldwide Will Learn About Our Planet’s Most Complex Ecosystems During the 2024-2025 Season of FIRST® Tech Challenge
MANCHESTER, N.H., September 7, 2024 – FIRST®, a robotics community that prepares young people for the future, launched its 2024-2025 FIRST® Tech Challenge season, INTO THE DEEPSM presented by RTX, with a game reveal on the FIRST Tech Challenge YouTube Channel on September 7. This year, students will compete using their STEM and collaboration skills to explore life beneath the surface of the ocean. INTO THE DEEP is part of the 2024-2025 FIRST® DIVESM season presented by Qualcomm, which will inspire students to uncover the potential in each of us to strengthen our community and innovate for a better world with healthy oceans.
During the INTO THE DEEP season, students will explore the complex ecosystems in the depths of the ocean, revealing its wonders, and learning how each inhabitant has a role to play in building a thriving environment. Teams will collaborate and innovate as they design, build, program, and operate robots to complete unique objectives in this ocean-inspired, thrilling head-to-head challenge.
“At RTX, we’re supporting greater access to STEM education for youth and championing the next generation of problem-solvers,” said Dantaya Williams, executive vice president and chief human resources officer, RTX. “We’re looking forward to seeing how FIRST Tech Challenge teams around the world tackle this season’s game - INTO THE DEEP. Together with FIRST, we’re committed to closing the talent gap in STEM fields and building a future workforce of innovators with the skills, confidence, and leadership to make a positive impact on the world.”
As the presenting sponsor for the INTO THE DEEP season, RTX directly supports FIRST events, programs, and thousands of teams globally, through funding and time donated by employees. RTX is doing its part to bring innovation, collaboration, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education to students all over the world.
“We are proud to partner with RTX to bring FIRST Tech Challenge students a new season that will inspire exploration and learning not only about what lies beneath the ocean’s surface, but also about what unique and exciting career opportunities there are to discover within STEM,” said Chris Moore, CEO, FIRST. “STEM offers a wide variety of career fields that encompass everything from engineering and coding to graphic design and marine biology. By participating in FIRST, students experience the fun of STEM, and they can better visualize the breadth of professional opportunities that they can pursue in the future.”
FIRST Tech Challenge is a widely accessible robotics program for grades 7 through 12 in which teams design, build, code, and operate sophisticated robots to play a themed floor game in an alliance format. Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and working as a team.
In addition to gameplay, designing and building robots, FIRST Tech Challenge participants raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach to earn specific awards during the competition season.
Registration for the 2024-2025 INTO THE DEEP presented by RTX season is now open.
FIRST Strategic Partner, RTX, is the Season Presenting Sponsor for the 2024-2025 FIRST Tech Challenge season, INTO THE DEEP. INTO THE DEEP is part of the 2024-2025 FIRST DIVE season, sponsored by Qualcomm. Google.org also supports the FIRST Tech Challenge program with funding to expand program access and advance AI education.
About FIRST®
FIRST® is a robotics community that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (PreK-12) that can be facilitated in school or in structured after-school programs. Boosted by a global support system of volunteers, educators, and sponsors that include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build, and showcase their achievements during annual challenges.
An international not-for-profit organization founded by accomplished inventor Dean Kamen in 1989, FIRST has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school. Participants and alumni of FIRST programs gain access to education and career discovery opportunities, connections to exclusive scholarships and employers, and a place in the FIRST community for life. Learn more at firstinspires.org.
About RTX
With more than 185,000 global employees, RTX pushes the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. Through industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon – we are advancing aviation, engineering integrated defense systems, and developing next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2023 sales of $69 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.