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About FIRST

Our Mission, Purpose & Values

FIRST® is the world’s leading youth robotics community, delivering youth robotics competitions that inspire innovation, build confidence, and prepare young people for life. Discover what drives our global movement.
See our Impact Explore our Programs

More Than Robots®

Founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a global nonprofit (501(c)(3)) organization that prepares young people for the future through a suite of welcoming, team-based robotics programs for ages 5-18 (K-12).

Our thrilling, sports-like challenges build self-confidence and collaborative problem-solving skills and have a proven and lasting impact on STEM learning and interest.

Our programs are: 

  • Suitable for schools or structured afterschool activities. 
  • Supported by a global network of volunteers, educators, and sponsor/donors, including more than 200 Fortune 500 companies.
  • More Than Robots®: Guided by a signature set of FIRST Core Values, participants conduct research, fundraise, design, build, and showcase their achievements. Along the way, they discover career opportunities, connect to exclusive scholarships and employers, and find a place in theFIRST community for life.

Purpose, Vision, and Mission

These are more than words on a page; our organizational statements encapsulate our promise to build a thriving global robotics community and to remain at the very forefront of STEM education.

PURPOSE

FIRST exists to prepare the young people of today for the world of tomorrow.

VISION

To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders.

MISSION

The mission of FIRST is to provide life-changing robotics programs that give young people the skills, confidence, and resilience to build a better world.

Our Core Values

The FIRST Core Values are fundamental to FIRST and unique to its programs. They emphasize friendly sportsmanship, respect for others’ contributions, teamwork, learning, and community involvement and are part of our commitment to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of unity.

Our community expresses the FIRST philosophies of Gracious Professionalism® and Coopertition® through the FIRST Core Values.
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Discovery

We explore new skills and ideas.
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Innovation

We use creativity and persistence to solve problems.
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Impact

We apply what we learn to improve our world.
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Inclusion

We respect each other and embrace our differences.
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Teamwork

We are stronger when we work together.
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Fun

We enjoy and celebrate what we do!
PHILOSOPHIES & ETHOS

Gracious Professionalism®

Gracious Professionalism® is part of the ethos of FIRST. It's a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community.

Through Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain coexist. Participants compete intensely while treating each other with respect and empathy. There is no trash talking, nor disingenuous platitudes. Knowledge, competition, and empathy blend comfortably.

The term was coined by Dr. Woodie Flowers, (1943-2019) executive advisory board chair emeritus & distinguished advisor to FIRST.
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PHILOSOPHIES & ETHOS

Coopertition®

Coopertition® fosters innovation by promoting unqualified kindness and respect in the face of intense competition.

At FIRST, Coopertition means teams help and cooperate with each other, even as they compete. It's about learning from teammates, teaching others, collaborating with mentors, managing, and being managed. Coopertition embodies the spirit of competing while assisting and enabling others whenever possible.
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Special Recognition

FIRST is proud to receive top rankings for consistently executing the organization’s mission in a fiscally responsible way. 
Legacy

Our Founder & History

Dean Kamen is a prolific inventor, entrepreneur, and tireless advocate for science and technology. After founding FIRST in 1989, Dean saw the immediate impact it had on kids from all backgrounds through its exciting sports model and ethos. Today, FIRST reaches more than 100 countries through its three programs for ages 5-18: FIRST® LEGO® League, FIRST® Tech Challenge, and FIRST® Robotics Competition.

To expand the work of FIRST and its impact around the world, Dean created the FIRST Global Challenge with the focus on planting a seed in every country to make science and technology available to youth everywhere through Olympics-style competition. FIRST Global and FIRST continue to work together to make STEM education accessible to young people everywhere. 
Browse our History Timeline

“FIRST is More Than Robots®. The robots are a vehicle for students to learn important life skills. Kids often come in not knowing what to expect – of the program nor of themselves. They leave, even after the first season, with a vision, with confidence, and with a sense that they can create their own future.” – Dean Kamen

Join the Movement

Are you ready to inspire the future? FIRST is backed by a global community of mentors, educators, volunteers, sponsors, families, alumni, and program delivery partners. Anyone can get involved with this movement.