---
title: FIRST Unveils New Season Challenge, CHARGED UP presented by Haas, for FIRST Robotics Competition Teams as Part of FIRST ENERGIZ presented by Qualcomm Season | FIRST
description: FIRST is a global robotics community preparing young people for the future and the world’s leading youth-serving nonprofit advancing STEM education.
---

[FIRST Press Room | Press Releases ](https://www.firstinspires.org/about/press-room)

# [FIRST Unveils New Season Challenge, CHARGED UP presented by Haas, for FIRST Robotics Competition Teams as Part of FIRST ENERGIZ presented by Qualcomm Season | FIRST](https://www.firstinspires.org/about/press-room/first-unveils-season-challenge-charged-up-presented-by-haas)

 Written by [FIRST Staff](https://www.firstinspires.org/about/press-room/author/first) | Jan 6, 2023 5:00:00 AM

3,300+ teams tuned in for the live broadcast of the 2023 *FIRST*® Robotics Competition Kickoff presented by Novelis

Students competing in 31 countries will be supported by tens of thousands of STEM educators, professionals, and supporters

**MANCHESTER, N.H., January 7, 2023** – [*FIRST*®](https://www.firstinspires.org/), a robotics community that prepares young people for the future, launched the 2023 *FIRST*® Robotics Competition season today with the unveiling of a new challenge called CHARGED UPSM presented by Haas. The 2023 *FIRST *Robotics Competition Kickoff presented by Novelis in collaboration with the United States Space Force was [broadcast on *FIRST*tv](https://www.twitch.tv/firstinspires) live from Manchester, New Hampshire, the hometown of *FIRST* headquarters, and was virtually attended by thousands of students, mentors, and *FIRST *supporters from around the world. An estimated 80,600 students on more than 3,200 teams are expected to participate in this year’s program.

“Gene Haas and all his employees are ecstatic that the Gene Haas Foundation is the 2023 *FIRST* Robotics Competition program presenting sponsor,” said Kathy Looman, the Gene Haas Foundation’s Director of Education. “*FIRST* brings to young people technical and life skills, compassion, integrity, *Coopertition*® and fun; the tools humans need for a fulfilled and happy future.”

[CHARGED UP presented by Haas](https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc/game-and-season) is part of the [2023 *FIRST* ENERGIZESM presented by Qualcomm](https://www.firstinspires.org/about/press-room/first-announces-energize-presented-by-qualcomm) season. In CHARGED UP, teams are inspired to see the potential of energy storage in a new light as they compete to charge up their communities. Using renewable energy can transform our communities, but only if it is effectively stored and delivered to those who need it. The power of engineering can help make a meaningful difference. This year’s challenge addresses global challenges related to [United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #7](https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal7) -- focused on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

Chris Moore, CEO of *FIRST*, encourages students to be inclusive, creative, and confident throughout the season, saying: “Our world is facing many challenges related to energy. During the CHARGED UP presented by Haas season of *FIRST *Robotics Competition, we will teach our students to leverage the tools they acquire throughout the program to transform the ways they think about energy consumption well beyond the competition.” Moore continues, addressing *FIRST *students directly: “As a student participant, this season will challenge you, it will transform the way you think about your own impact, and it will show you what you’re truly capable of, all with our global community behind you. I can’t wait to see what you’re able to accomplish this season – both on and off the competition field.”

At today’s *FIRST* Robotics Competition Kickoff presented by Novelis, teams were shown the CHARGED UP presented by Haas game field and challenge details for the first time and received the Kickoff Kit, which is made up of motors, batteries, control system components, construction materials, and a mix of additional automation components – with limited instructions. Each team receives a Kit of Parts supported by 65 *FIRST* suppliers, and delivered by long-time supporter and Strategic Partner, FedEx.

Working with adult mentors, students have limited time to design, build, program, and test their robots to meet the season’s challenge. Once these young inventors build a robot, their teams will participate beginning in late February in one or more of the global 166 Regional and District events that measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration, and the determination of students.

By participating in *FIRST*, students gain confidence to explore the innovation process while learning valuable science, engineering, technology, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Students also learn and apply the *FIRST* ethos of *Gracious Professionalism*® via a signature set of [*FIRST *Core Values.](https://www.firstinspires.org/about/vision-and-mission)

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.

To learn more about the CHARGED UP presented by Haas season and how to participate, visit the *FIRST *Robotics Competition [Game & Season page](https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc/game-and-season).

 

**About *FIRST******®***

[*FIRST*](https://www.firstinspires.org/)*®* 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 afterschool 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](https://www.firstinspires.org/about/vision-and-mission#gracious-professionalism) 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](https://www.firstinspires.org/about/impact) on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school. [Alumni](https://www.firstinspires.org/alumni) of *FIRST* programs gain access to exclusive scholarships, internships, and other opportunities that create connections and open pathways to a wide variety of careers. Learn more at [firstinspires.org](https://www.firstinspires.org/).

The [Gene Haas Foundation](https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhubs.la%2FQ016JClX0&data=05%7C01%7Ckjones%40firstinspires.org%7C6e33e2a3062b4d1eb28f08daea86e695%7C87f3c3bf6dd144ecbd8f99e4e622ef84%7C0%7C0%7C638080162390190927%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=LD%2BV9R4z56XaAJAaOIrnLDU2ya80ZTH6HS58qC6WJes%3D&reserved=0) was established in 1999, by Gene Haas, founder and owner of  [Haas Automation, Inc.](https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhubs.la%2FQ016QBwB0&data=05%7C01%7Ckjones%40firstinspires.org%7C6e33e2a3062b4d1eb28f08daea86e695%7C87f3c3bf6dd144ecbd8f99e4e622ef84%7C0%7C0%7C638080162390190927%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=QuVx3SFET669z1GcUcvHEynzPlycY3Pwe69q61F0ecU%3D&reserved=0) to support the needs of the local community, through grants to local charities. Seeing a growing need for skilled manufacturing employees worldwide, the Foundation expanded its mission. By providing scholarship grants, sponsoring individual and team CNC competitions, and partnering with the very best CNC training programs in the world, the Foundation helps expand the availability of high-quality manufacturing technology training worldwide. The Gene Haas Foundation donates millions of dollars every year to manufacturing education and the community. In 2022, the Gene Haas Foundation provided more than $27 million in grants, bringing the total since inception to more than to $152 million.    

Haas’ [commitment to education](https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhubs.la%2FQ016JCnq0&data=05%7C01%7Ckjones%40firstinspires.org%7C6e33e2a3062b4d1eb28f08daea86e695%7C87f3c3bf6dd144ecbd8f99e4e622ef84%7C0%7C0%7C638080162390190927%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=2UTLBrJWLIMhSMddiV3sLQv8bg7a8x%2FvQwjvYNlgCeE%3D&reserved=0) is unsurpassed in the industry, with over 5,500 schools world-wide training with Haas CNC technology. Gene Haas is also the owner of the Haas F1 team, Formula One Racing Team, Windshear Rolling Road Wind tunnel and co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing NASCAR teams.

[View full post](https://www.firstinspires.org/about/press-room/first-unveils-season-challenge-charged-up-presented-by-haas)

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