FIRST Inspires: My Story

Gaining exposure and access to higher education
Carrie Ruddle
Pendleton County (West Virginia) 4-H

Bringing schools together for STEM success
Heather Naviasky
Regional Manager of School Partnerships, the Y of Central Maryland

Robotics opens doors for rural young women
Carolyn White
Grant and Public Support Manager, Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming

FIRST is about constantly growing, learning, and improving
Connor Tinker
FIRST Alum, Volunteer, & Mentor

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

Building STEM culture in Compton
Michael Kurinsky
Administrator of Educational Services-Secondary, Compton Unified School District

Transformative learning through robotics
Melissa Jackson
Grants Manager, Boys and Girls Haven, Kentucky

Strategies for creating STEM engagement opportunities in high-poverty schools
STEM Equity Grantees
FIRST School Districts

FIRST is a family affair
Amanda and Robert Stephenson
FIRST Alumni & Volunteers

I’m building leadership skills as a FIRST mentor
Max Goldstein
FIRST Alum & Mentor

FIRST taught me how to learn from my peers
Hans Mueller
FIRST Alum & Volunteer

Teacher inspires a culture change through high school robotics and crowdfunding
Monique Dituri
FIRST Robotics Competition Mentor & STEM Teacher, Clifton High School, NJ

I’m still learning new job skills as a FIRST mentor
Rachel Clark
FIRST Alum and Mentor

FIRST builds my students into leaders
Sherry Comer
Camdenton R-III Afterschool Services Director & FIRST Mentor

FIRST mentors change students’ lives
D. Scott Heister
Mentor, FIRST Robotics Competition Team 66 “Grizzly Robotics”; Ypsilanti STEMM Middle College Director, Michigan

FIRST mentor leads students into brighter futures
Chelsey Roebuck
FIRST Alum, FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1218; Mentor, FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1660; Co-founder, Emerging Leaders in Technology and Engineering (ELiTE)