Lou Altman

Jul 05, 2017 Written by Frank Merrick.

 

FIRST Robotics Competition Lou Altman photo

It’s with a heavy heart I announce that Lou Altman, FIRST Robotics Competition Championship Pit Announcer since 2009, passed away a few days ago.

 

Kit of Parts Survey = Prizes!

Jun 23, 2017 Written by the Kit Of Parts Team.

This is your chance to win some great prizes! Complete the Kit of Parts Survey and you will be eligible!

More Details on the Festival of Champions

Jun 17, 2017 Written by Frank Merrick.

 

 

Participating Teams and Schedule

We now have our full slate of teams participating in the upcoming Festival of Champions! Along with our 2017 Chairman's Award winning Teams, 3132, Thunder Down Under, from Sydney, Australia, and 2614, MARS, from Morgantown, West Virginia, USA, as our guests of honor, we have the following teams competing:

 

Representing Houston

INSPIRATION IS EVERWHERE

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FIRST Alum Evan Rotter

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Student finds a road to success through FIRST

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Evan Rotter

Alumnus of FIRST Robotics Competition Team 4786, Nicolet FEAR, of Glendale, Wisconsin

Evan Rotter was not a strong or motivated student, but he loved mechanics. After joining his Wisconsin high school’s FIRST team, he gained the motivation he needed to improve his grades and make a post-graduation plan. Evan enrolled in a technical college to become an automotive technician.

Background

When teachers at a Wisconsin high school started a FIRST Robotics Competition team, they selected sophomore Evan Rotter as a founding team member. He was not a strong or motivated student, but he had a champion in Lead Mentor and robotics teacher Adam Thiel, who recognized his passion for mechanics in class and believed he would be an asset to the team.

A Pathway Through FIRST

Mr. Thiel was right. Evan became a team asset and a leader. He learned how to collaborate and work under deadlines. FIRST gave Evan the motivation he needed to improve his grades and figure out a post-graduation plan. The team Mentors even awarded Evan the team’s Senior Scholarship. Channeling his passion for cars and skills he learned through FIRST, Evan enrolled in a technical college to become a Ford Technician, and became a top student in the program.

In Their Own Words

This case study shares how Evan found his path to a fulfilling career through his FIRST team and Mentors, in the words of Evan and Mr. Thiel.

“I’m now studying at a technical college to be a Ford Technician … a two-year program in which you alternate between school and a job at the dealership … Everything that I am doing now in class, I had learned previously on my robotics team.” — Evan Rotter, FIRST Alumnus


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INSPIRATION IS EVERWHERE

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Yohance Salimu speaks at the 2015 FIRST Championship Showcase Presentation

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FIRST experience turns challenges to opportunities for LA teen

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Yohance Salimu

FIRST Alumnus, FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1692, CougarBots, of Los Angeles; Second Lieutenant, United States Air Force

A homeless teen from an impoverished LA neighborhood turned to FIRST for more than his educational needs. FIRST answered Yohance Salimu basic survival needs when team Mentors offered him a place to stay, food to eat, and, ultimately, the motivation to pursue a successful career in the Air Force.

Background

As a homeless teen from an impoverished LA neighborhood with a high school graduation rate of 30 percent, Yohance Salimu turned to FIRST for more than his educational needs. FIRST also answered Yohance’s basic survival needs when team Mentors offered him a place to stay, food to eat, and, ultimately, the motivation to pursue a successful career in the Air Force.

Life Changing Lessons From FIRST

The Second Lieutenant says the lessons learned from FIRST have been instrumental in all that he has achieved today. Yohance credits FIRST with teaching him how to perfect his technical and leadership skills, as well as how to manage a work ethic and develop his overall professional growth.

FIRST Experience Turns Challenges to Opportunities

FIRST paved the way for Yohance to succeed in the working world so that he could eventually move his family out of a homeless shelter, away from soup kitchens, and on the path to recovery. Yohance says he plans to reach out and give back; to provide the energy and resources so that others can attain the same goals he has been able to.

“There is no substitute for what FIRST can do. There’s no other place to get that kind of all-encompassing experience — technical, interpersonal, professional.” — Yohance Salimu


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INSPIRATION IS EVERWHERE

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Members of Camdenton's FIRST teams accept a grant from a local community organization.

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How to encourage STEM to students in communities where there are no STEM jobs

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Camdenton, Missouri

FIRST Progression of Programs School District

Central Missouri’s rural Camdenton school district has fully adopted the FIRST Progression of Programs for K-12. One of every 14 students in the district is involved at some level, with students at all levels preparing for the jobs of the future and building “soft skills” such as teamwork and public speaking.

Background

Central Missouri’s Camdenton school district wanted to prepare its students, many of whom had never traveled out of their rural community, for jobs of the future. They wanted to introduce students to rapidly expanding STEM fields – even though there were few, if any, STEM jobs within a hundred miles. And they wanted to teach essential life skills that employers seek.

Finding and Building a Program

Camdenton R-III School District Superintendent Dr. Tim Hadfield embraced FIRST because it encompassed elements that fit the district’s comprehensive strategic plan, offering activities with relevant interest and giving kids a vision as to what they want to become. With the help of a lead team of educators and a $10,000 start-up grant, FIRST Robotics Competition Team 3284 was formed with 21 high school members. Today, Camdenton has fully adopted the FIRST Progression of Programs for K-12. One of every 14 students in the district is involved at some level.

Measuring Progress

Over 92 percent of graduating Team 3284 alumni have gone on to further their STEM education or a STEM career, and students at all levels are building “soft skills” such as teamwork and public speaking.

“STEM fields are rapidly expanding, and the district determined that its students should not be left behind. Students need to understand that their future does not have to look like their present. You need to learn by doing.” — Dr. Tim Hadfield, Camdenton R-III School District Superintendent


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INSPIRATION IS EVERWHERE

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Umatilla's FIRST Robotics Competition Team "4125 Confidential"

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FIRST boosts graduation and college enrollment rates in Pacific Northwest

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Umatilla High School

FIRST Robotics Competition Team 4125, Confidential, of Umatilla, Oregon

Interested in encouraging STEM participation among students in a small, rural town located in the northeast corner of Oregon, Superintendent Heidi Sipe created Umatilla’s FIRST Robotics Competition team, which now boasts a 100 percent high school graduation rate and has led to the creation of a free K-12 after-school STEM program.

Background

Umatilla is a small, rural town located in the northeast corner of Oregon. Introducing students to the importance, and fun, of a STEM career, and providing opportunities to develop their skills, breaks down barriers to further education and helps them achieve success in careers they didn’t know were available to them.

Bringing FIRST to Umatilla

Interested in encouraging STEM participation among students, Schools Superintendent Heidi Sipe created Umatilla’s FIRST Robotics Competition team of nine members. With virtually no business support or school district funding available to contribute to an after-school STEM program, Heidi turned to grants and the community. Family members were drawn in as Mentors. The team’s success led to the creation of the STEM Academy of Umatilla, a free K-12 after-school program, where students participate 12 hours each week, in classes focused on developing interest in STEM and providing a hands-on opportunity to develop a variety of skills.

Impact in the District

The initial FIRST team now numbers 51 students and boasts a 100 percent high school graduation rate. Earned college credits and college enrollment rates are up, and students are building skills and confidence, while contributing to the proud community that has helped to field their team.

“Helping students understand that their future does not have to look like their present is extremely important to me as an educator. In our community, we have many talented and intelligent kids, who simply don’t understand the breadth of careers that are available, let alone aspire to attain success in those careers.” — Heidi Sipe, Umatilla School District Superintendent


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INSPIRATION IS EVERWHERE

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FIRST LEGO League team "Scorpiotics"

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FIRST, Cisco Systems bring innovative learning to 12 Arizona schools

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Cisco Systems

FIRST Sponsor

Cisco Systems helped create 20 new FIRST LEGO League teams for more than 120 students in grades 4-8 – enabling them to create innovative solutions to challenges facing todays scientists while developing career and life skills, and becoming more involved in their community.

Background

Arizona’s Yuma County is a rural region along the Mexican border. Inspiring students at a young age to engage in their own education is critical to helping them achieve success later in life, and to help build a solid workforce pipeline for the region.

Model of Inspiration

Cisco Systems donated $35,000 to create 20 new FIRST LEGO League teams for more than 120 students in grades 4-8. This pilot program also worked to recruit teachers as after-school Coaches; offer professional development for new Coaches and Mentors; and added a FIRST LEGO League qualifying tournament to the region. In addition, it increased the number of female and Hispanic students who participated in FIRST in Yuma County.

Hard Work Pays Off

Students were enabled to create innovative solutions to challenges facing todays scientists; use LEGO MINDSTORMS technology; apply real-world math and science concepts; develop career and life skills including critical thinking, time management, collaboration, and communication while becoming more self-confident; become more involved in their community.

“I am extremely proud of my team. We learned that although many goals are hard to achieve, with team work, they are not impossible.” — FIRST LEGO League Coach Mehulkumar Gandhi


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INSPIRATION IS EVERWHERE

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Mark McComb

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FIRST helps develop the skilled employees of tomorrow

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Mark McCombs

FIRST Volunteer, Florida; FIRST Alumnus

I'm a FIRST Alum turned FIRST Mentor, fundraiser, organizer, and now FIRST LEGO League Affiliate Partner for Northeast Florida. I'm very lucky to have been a member of one of the oldest and most active FIRST Robotics Competition teams, Team 86 in Jacksonville, Florida, which turns 20 this year. When I was on that team, we were the only sustainable team in our region.

Here's the thing. With so many companies relocating to Jacksonville right now, we need engineering and manufacturing employees. FIRST is the organization that can help. When I was a mechanical engineering student, I started helping two FIRST LEGO League teams. We had fewer than twenty teams back then. If you fast forward four years to today, we have 170 FIRST teams. That's with major help from the University of North Florida, and because of them, more colleges and universities are getting involved. This year, Jacksonville University, is hosting a six-figure scholarship program for FIRST participants. With the help of people like you, we're working to ensure that every student in Northeast Florida has access to a FIRST team.


INSPIRATION IS EVERWHERE

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Andrew Bannish

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FIRST helps change lives the world over

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Andrew Bannish 

FIRST Volunteer, China

Even on the other side of the planet, FIRST is changing lives. Today, FIRST is inspiring thousands of Chinese kids on thousands of teams. FIRST works for even our most economically challenged students – kids like Jason Wren, who comes from a very destitute area. Through FIRST, Jason learned the value of hard work and won entrance to the very competitive Tsinghua University. He even got to meet Dean Kamen and is now headed to medical school.

The Chinese government has continued to expand FIRST, so we now have over 3,000 FIRST teams in all four programs. Last year, President Xi Jinping attended a joint meeting of the Chinese, U.S., and English Academies of Science and Engineering, remarking, "Robotics will become an entry point, an impetus for growth of the third industrial revolution. This will influence the landscape of the global manufacturing industry and China may become the largest robotics market in the world."