FIRST Championship is an annual three-and-a-half-day robotics competition that is the culmination of several FIRST programs. The high-tech spectator event brings together three separate robotics competitions, where teams for each program compete in tournaments at state and regional levels. The winning teams from those tournaments join the global competition at FIRST Championship, bringing skills, enthusiasm, infectious good will and, of course, hundreds of amazing robots of all sizes to engage in friendly competition.
The competition is held in conjunction with FIRST Championship Conferences, which cover a wide variety of topics in science, technology, engineering and robotics fields presented on the conference main stage, as well as in smaller sessions designed to provide an interactive experience, such as hands-on demonstrations, round-table conversations and group activities. Past presentations have ranged from robot design tools and strategies (design software, programming languages) to preparing for college (applications, essays, interviews, scholarships).
Over 17,000 kids, ages six to 18, from around the world are expected to converge at this year’s championship, taking place April 22-25, 2015, in St. Louis, MO, at the Edward Jones Dome and three other venues. This is a new expanded arrangement designed to allow for more space to expand each individual program.
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2015 competitions and events will include the
- FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Championship: a six-week competition program for high-school students to build robots that can complete a task that changes every year using a standard set of parts, plus any additional off-the-shelf or custom parts
- FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) World Championship: a mid-level competition program for high-school aged students with a more accessible and affordable robotics kit
- FIRST LEGO League (FLL) World Festival: a competition program for elementary and middle school students.
- 12th Annual FIRST Championship Conferences
You can view the full schedule at http://www.firstchampionship.org/FIRST-championship/spectator-schedule.
Inspiring Tomorrow’s Science and Tech Leaders
FIRST was founded in 1989 to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, NH, the not-for-profit public charity designs “accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.”
Dean Kamen explains that he founded the organization, “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.”
To set the tone for “FIRST Values,” Dr. Woodie Flowers, FIRST National Advisor and Pappalardo Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, coined the term “Gracious Professionalism” — part of the ethos of FIRST, and a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community.
“With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions. Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. They avoid treating anyone like losers. No chest thumping tough talk, but no sticky-sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, competition and empathy are comfortably blended. In the long run, Gracious Professionalism is part of pursuing a meaningful life. One can add to society and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing one has acted with integrity and sensitivity,” the FIRST Web site explains.
Scholarship Program
First also organizes a scholarship program, where colleges, universities, professional associations and corporations offer college scholarships to participants on FIRST teams. The program is intended to offer “official recognition of the knowledge, technical, and life skills” kids have gained as participants in a FIRST program. Scholarships are not just for engineering majors — roughly 35 percent of FIRST Scholarships can be used for any course of study, and they vary from one-time awards of $500 to full four-year tuition.
Videos:
- 2015 FRC Kickoff Broadcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj1VBVc-rHo
- What is FTC? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDJMn4-2Fp4
- FIRST LEGO League Inspires Innovation in Kids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb6McgAx5vU
Want get involved? Information about volunteering for any FIRST Championship program is available at: http://www.firstchampionship.org/volunteer/volunteer
