Pittsburgh FIRST

About FIRST

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity that designs accessible, innovative programs that inspire young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, engineering, technology, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills. Supported by a strong network of sponsors and volunteers, FIRST provides four programs: FIRST Robotics Competition (grades 9-12) FIRST Tech Challenge (grades 7-12); FIRST LEGO® League (grades 4-8; and FIRST LEGO® League Junior (grades K-3). Each year FIRST presents the teams with a challenge specific to their program level. As examples at the FIRST Robotics Competition level, the challenges have included throwing basketballs and balancing robots on bridges (2012); and throwing Frisbee-like discs and climbing a tube pyramid (2013). While during some of the competition the robots are remote-control assisted, these timed competitions include periods when the robots have to operate entirely on their own. Founded by inventor Dean Kamen 25 years ago in Manchester, NH, FIRST has grown to reach over 400,000 youth in the US and internationally. For more info, visit the FIRST website.

FIRST Programs

FIRST has robotics programs targeted for students of all ages, with varying challenges and difficulty levels. These programs bring together students, parents, teachers, mentors, and sponsors and nurture real-world skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving while cultivating interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). The FIRST programs include FIRST LEGO League Junior (Grades K-3), FIRST LEGO League (Grades 4-8), FIRST Tech Challenge (Grades 7-12), and FIRST Robotics Competition (Grades 9-12). For more information, visit the archived page on the FIRST Progression of Programs or FIRST FAQ’s (pdf).

FIRST Regions

Within North America, FIRST divides the United States and Canada into regions or districts to support teams and to provide local opportunities to test their robots in competitions. Our region is the Western & Central Pennsylvania Region, which is comprised of 41 counties west of Harrisburg. Teams throughout the region, from downtown Pittsburgh to rural farming communities, all celebrate FIRST as a way of inspiring students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Click here to see FIRST Robotics Competition teams and locations in our region. FRC teams in Eastern PA are part of the Mid-Atlantic Robotics District, which also includes Delaware and New Jersey.