FIRST Inspires: My Story

FIRST inspires students to be forces for change in their communities
FIRST ® RISESM powered by
Star Wars: Force for Change Season Teams

High school robotics team innovates to help the U.S. Air Force
Knob Noster High School
FIRST® Robotics Competition Team 6424 “Stealth Panther Robotics,” Knob Noster, Missouri

My career path started with FIRST
FIRST Alum Joe Polin
FIRST Alum, Volunteer, & Donor
I create innovative automated solutions as a software developer
Michael Hodson
FIRST Alum & Mentor

Bringing STEM engagement to disadvantaged youth through community-based organizations
STEM Equity Grantees
FIRST Youth-Serving Organizations

I learned what it takes to be a successful engineer through FIRST
David Gomez
FIRST Alum

Strategies for creating STEM engagement opportunities in high-poverty schools
STEM Equity Grantees
FIRST School Districts
FIRST helped me gain confidence to launch a manufacturing startup
Max Friefeld
FIRST Alum, FIRST Robotics Competition Team 687; Co-founder, Voodoo Manufacturing

FIRST taught me how to work smart, like a startup
Peyton Fitzgerald
FIRST Alum, FIRST Robotics Competition Team 5459 “Ipswich Tigers” and Recipient, Northeastern University’s NU-FIRST Scholarship

FIRST teaches kids to think like engineers
Dr. Leigh Nathan
FIRST Alumna, Connecticut