Share Your Story


Share your FIRST Story Part of the vision of FIRST is to positively transform culture by inspiring young people, their schools, and communities to appreciate and celebrate science and technology. The stories of our students, Mentors, Sponsors, teachers, parents, and Alumni clearly demonstrate that FIRST is about more than robots. It is a life-changing experience – and a lot of fun!

We invite you to share your FIRST story. (You must be 13 years or older to submit a story.)

Some of the ways FIRST may use submitted stories include the e-Newsletter, Annual Impact Report, FIRST Championship Conferences, public relations outreach, social media, videos, fundraising appeals, and grant applications.

 

Details of FIRST STRONGHOLDSM 2016 Robotics Game Revealed

Full Details of FIRST STRONGHOLD Game Unveiled to More than 75,000 High-School Students Worldwide at the 2016 FIRST® Robotics Competition Season Kickoff

  • Over 19,000 professional engineers to mentor students in 24 countries
  • Senator for New Hampshire Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) and New Hampshire Governor Margaret Hassan (D-N.H.) encouraged students to become the next generation of creative problem solvers

Pre-Kickoff Highlights

Jan 08, 2016 Written by Frank Merrick

I Just Can’t Get Enough

Numbers

Jan 07, 2016 Written by Frank Merrick

9,328,490,238,209

This is a number Haley Dunn, FIRST PR and Social Media Specialist, posted in this tweet. She intended it to be random, ridiculously large number, not some kind of game hint, though some folks on a few forums think it is a game hint. It’s not. But I expect for some people, me saying it’s not a game hint will be taken as conclusive proof that it actually is a game hint. But it’s not a game hint.

82,152

FIRST and Booz Allen Hamilton Join Forces to Stem the Low Tide of Future Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Professionals

Global Management and Technology Consulting and Engineering Firm Has Supported FIRST Since 2004

You don’t have to be COOL to be a STEM Role Model

Jan 06, 2016 by Meagan Pollock, Director of Professional Development, NAPE


I wasn’t particularly cool in high school, though I wasn’t exactly un-cool either. Successfully crossing the boundaries between the jocks, brainiacs, and the student council kids, I made it through mostly unscathed. Being a national champion powerlifter, ranked number 2 in my class, and winning student body President on a platform of “Change” afforded me a semi-safe haven in this liminal state between cool/un-cool. Of course, I wanted to be cool; who didn’t in high school?

Surprise!

Jan 05, 2016 Today’s blog post was written by Jonathan Bryant, Kit of Parts Engineer.

We’re using today’s blog to tell you about three juicy pieces of information from the Robot section of the Game Manual and the Kit of Parts.

First, R14. R14 – Software and mechanical/electrical designs created before Kickoff are only permitted if the source files (complete information sufficient to produce the design) are available publicly prior to Kickoff.

So, if you already have a design, and you want to use it this year, post it publicly now.

Second, Motors.

Lisa Siegmann

Dr. Meagan Pollock
Director of Professional Development, National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity 

Dr. Meagan Pollock is the Director of Professional Development for the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity. In this role, Meagan leads a national team of equity professionals that build educators’ capacity to implement effective solutions for increasing student access, educational equity and workforce diversity. 

Before turning her focus on the intersection of education and equity, Meagan worked as an engineer for Texas Instruments. Meagan was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, and she holds a PhD in engineering education from Purdue University, a MS in electrical engineering from Texas Tech University, and a BS in computer science from Texas Woman’s University. As an engineer turned educator, Meagan is focused on engineering equity into education.

 

Kickoff Broadcast Info, FIRST Updates Now, & Chairman's Award Feedback Forms

Jan 04, 2016 Written by Frank Merrick

FIRST Tech Challenge Dean's List

What is the FIRST Dean’s List Award?

In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding secondary school students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected 10th and 11th grade students known as the FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge Dean’s List.

There are three (3) “categories” of FIRST Dean’s List Award students:

  1. FIRST Dean’s List Semi-finalists – comprised of the two (2) students in their 10th or 11th grade school year* nominated by each team.  
  2. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists – comprised of the students (2, 3, or 4, depending on the region) selected at each State/Regions Championship.
  3. FIRST Dean’s List Winners – comprised of the ten (10) FIRST Robotics Competition and ten (10) FIRST Tech Challenge students selected from the applicable FIRST Dean’s List Finalists at the FIRST Championship.

The students who earn FIRST Dean’s List Award status as a Semi-finalists, Finalist or Winner, are great examples of student leaders who have led their teams and communities to increased awareness for FIRST and its mission. It is the goal of FIRST that these individuals will continue, post-award, as great leaders, student alumni, and advocates of FIRST.

If you have any questions about the Dean's List Award, please reach out to us at FTCDeansList@firstinspires.org

*NOTE: For regions of the world that do not use grade levels such as this to identify years of schooling: This award is intended for students who are two (2) to three (3) years away from entering college or university. Students that would be attending college or university in the next academic year are not eligible. Mentors will be asked for the year of graduation during the nomination process.

Nominate your students TODAY!

Mentors/coaches must review the Dean's List Nomination Guide prior to making their Dean's List nomination. Nominations must be made using the Team Registration System. 

Notice Regarding Dean's List Award Media Exposure

The FIRST Privacy Policy, available https://www.firstinspires.org/about/privacy-policy, allows FIRST to use the personal data of award nominees for promotional purposes and for award administration. 

FIRST believes that celebrating the accomplishments of individual award winners is beneficial to both FIRST and our student leaders by increasing opportunities for the students and promoting and honoring the mission of FIRST.  Dean's List Award Finalists and Winners can expect the use of their name and likeness across FIRST websites, live broadcasts at FIRST events, social media channels, press releases, and other formats. 

If you have concerns related to the media exposure you may receive if selected as a Dean's List finalist, you may opt-out of consideration for this award by contacting FTCDeansList@firstinspires.org.

 

2024-2025 FIRST Tech Challenge Dean's List Award Winners

2024-2025 Dean's List Award Winners

Team Name Location
14725 Michael Merino Osprey, FL, USA
10100 Diya Dhawal Verona, WI, USA
18079 Brady Poggioli Maple Valley, WA, USA
11770 Zarah Guillemet View Park, CA, USA
22043 Thalis Katsimichas Paiania, East Attica, Greece
23307 Basmalah ElGawady Rolla, MO, USA
24331 Zac Keepers Owens Cross Roads, AL, USA
19819 Serena Gandhi Sunnyvale, CA, USA
11093 Noah Blaut Austin, TX, USA
24864 Olivia Stevens Newark, DE, USA

 

2023-2024 FIRST Tech Challenge Dean's List Award Winners

2023-2024 Dean's List Award Winners

Team Name Location
16461 Ryan Hallihan Matthews, NC, USA
14295 Hannah Rehard San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA
12791 Harish Pravin Flower Mound, TX, USA
14825 Emily Kurashima Honolulu, HI, USA
5115 Graden Gentry Windsor, CO, USA
18145 Ramsey McClure Jacksonville, FL, USA
4537 Sophia Lander Kettering, OH, USA
16458 Justin Jin San Antonio, TX, USA
18984 Emily Daniels Charleston, SC, USA
21594 Quentin Norris Calgary, AB, Canada

 

2022-2023 FIRST Tech Challenge Dean's List Award Winners

2021-2022 Dean's List Award Winners

Team Name Location
8651 Chloe Allen Pearl, MS, USA
8393 Lucas Boyle Baden, PA, USA
10348 Aimee Linebarger Albuquerque, NM, USA
13088 Martian Binowangan Jr. Kapaa, HI, USA
8648 Kirsten Polk Peoria, IL, USA
542 Perry Han Cerritos, CA, USA
18715 Priyanka Karunakaran San Jose, CA, USA
19589 Mason Fouty Liberty Lake
15534 Deborah Ang Exeter, NH, USA
14503 Videet Mehta Sugar Lane, TX, USA

 

2021-2022 FIRST Tech Challenge Dean's List Award Winners

2021-2022 Dean's List Award Winners

Team Name Location
10216 Diana Omar Ellicot City, MD, USA
5470 Isaiah Villareal El Paso, Texas, USA
12735 Z Gibson Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
16884 Rohan Bosworth San Diego, CA, USA
9788 Jewel Moore Peoria, IL, USA
8586 Melody Hu Plano, TX, USA
18183 Kyran Siddiqui Oswego, IL, USA
15975 Brianna Stan Bucuresti, Hunedoara, Romania
19376 Ben Caunt Shelby, NC, USA
11574 Sophia Burbano Reno, NV, USA

 

2020-2021 FIRST Tech Challenge Dean's List Award Winners

2020-2021 Dean's List Award Winners

Team Name Location
8699 Kay Bell Danbury, Connecticut, USA
12600 Arko Ghosh Tampa, Florida, USA
2818 Sara Huelskamp McHenry, Maryland, USA
9378 Kyla Lee Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
6547 Lance Philgreen Leawood, Kansas, USA
14481 Aarush Sharma Plainsboro, New Jersey, USA
18225 Emma Shi Bellevue, Washington, USA
16660 Toya Takahashi Anchorage, Alaska, USA
18367 Megan Volkening Greendale, Wisconsin, USA
11212 Michael Zeng San Diego, California, USA

2020 FIRST Tech Challenge Dean's List Award Winners

2019 2020 FIRST Tech Challenge Dean's List Award Winners

Team Name Location
9773 Alonso Manzueta Chappaqua, NY, USA
6088 Nathan Bosse Coeur D Alene, ID, USA
7105 Gianna Deucher Vass, NC, USA
11529 Brianna Williams Saint Michaels, AZ, USA
15146 Garrek Chan Solana Beach, CA, USA
7547 Sophie Maniscalco St. Louis, MO, USA
11009 Maria Cortez McAllen, TX, USA
10435 Andrew Kinneer Waukee, IA, USA
11337 Yavid Garcia Compton, CA, USA
8651 Lauren Blacksher Brandon, MS, USA

2019 FIRST Tech Challenge Dean's List Award Winners

Team Name Location
10146 Aja Capel Urbana, IL, USA
9879 James Cassady Springdale, AR, USA
5687 Nanami Duncan Carson City, NV, USA
6567 Jacqueline Kocik Red Hook, NY, USA
9829 Andy Li San Antonio, TX, USA
11256 Emily Miner Folsom, CA, USA
7548 Cole Nagata Honolulu, HI, USA
13536 Raul Rodriguez Salt Lake City, UT, USA
10497 Blake Sanders Gainesville, FL, USA
7776 Rispa Vranka Wafula  Portland, OR, USA


2018 FIRST Tech Challenge Dean’s List Award Winners

FIRST Tech Challenge 2017 Dean's List Students

 

Team Name Location
5975 Karris Krurger Denver, IA, USA
7190 Zoe Berg Saint Paul, MN, USA
8381 Sophia Leon Guerrero San Mateo, CA, USA
9112 Shriya Pingali Salt Lake City, UT, USA
9790 Zachary Simon Granger, IN, USA
9899 Joshua Rohrbaugh Fort Collins, CO, USA
11096 Ariana Garbers Marietta, GA, USA
11857 Marcus Morris Dallas, GA, USA
12211 George Rak Lodi, OH, USA
13368 Tania Najnin New York, NY, USA

 

2017 FIRST Tech Challenge Dean's List Award Winners

 

Team Name Location
7022 Elizabeth Bray Birmingham, AL, USA
7013 Gokul Kolady Portland, OR, USA
3188 Rhett Pimentel Powell, WY, USA
3491 Aila Simpson Victoria, BC, Canada
6700 Kieran Beaumont Fairfax, VA, USA
8120 Kelly Rudder Kirtland, OH, USA
4106 Timothy Keup Brookfield, WI, USA
5029 Gloria Campos Englewood, OH, USA
7006 Roshaan Siddiqui Chicago, IL, USA
8095 Marissa Hibbart  Norfolk, VA, USA

 

2016 FIRST Tech Challenge Dean’s List Award Winners

 

Team Name Location
7220  Andrew Dornbier Garner, IA, USA
8121  Anika Yardi Rockville, MD, USA
4855 Anshuman Radhakrishnan Portland, OR, USA
3595  Colleen Johnson Fairbanks, AK, USA
5395  David Sargent Mustang, OK, USA
4886  Juwon Packer Lubbock, TX, USA
7129  Knut Peterson Lebanon, IL, USA
9547  Luz Moreno San Antonio, TX, USA
6081  Phoebe Spear Westport, CT, USA
6037  Sanjna Ravichandar  Princeton Junction, NJ, USA

 

See also: Dean's List Award Presentation at the 2016 FIRST World Championship!

 

2015 FIRST Tech Challenge Dean’s List Award Winners

 

Team Name Location
310 James Chin New York, NY, USA
5466 Stephen Eckert Davenport, IA, USA
4856 Sarah Fogwell West Vincent, PA, USA
7593 Serena Grown-Haeberli Belmont, CA, USA
8438 Laura Irvine Stillwater, MN, USA
4250 Hannah Liao Oklahoma City, OK, USA
2408 Mashoor Rashid Hazelwood, MO, USA
6987 Cameron Richards Granville, OH, USA
7172 Kaite Thomas Plano, TX, USA
5206 Austin Wang Stanford, CT, USA