FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) sponsors robotics competitions to challenge youth to learn and apply engineering and science skills. Its programs range from the FIRST Lego League (for elementary and middle school students), to FIRST Tech Challenge (for high school students), and FIRST Robotics Competition, also known as FRC (for high school students).

FIRST was founded in 1989 by inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen, who is most famous for his invention of the Segway scooter. His vision: “To create a world where science and technology are celebrated... where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes.” Kamen, president of DEKA Research and Development, believes that by generating celebrity-level excitement in science and technology, young people will be inspired to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Kamen teamed up with Dr. Woodie Flowers, the Pappalardo Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and other professionals, to design and host annual competitions aimed at strengthening students’ interest in science and technology, while also fostering self-confidence, leadership, and life skills.

Today FIRST Robotics brings the excitement of a sporting event through robotics competitions to more than 37,000 high-school aged kids organized into 1,500- plus teams in the U.S., as well as Brazil, Canada, Chile, Israel, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Each January, these teams gather in auditoriums across the country for the unveiling of the year’s new game challenge. At these Kickoff events, each team picks up an identical kit of parts that serves as a starter kit for the robot they will build over the next six weeks. By the time the six-week “build” ends, each team will hopefully have a finished robot, as these robots are packed up and then picked up and shipped to a regional competition venue. The next time teams will see their robot is at one of the 41 regional competitions. Teams that emerge victorious at these regional tournaments go on to the FIRST Championship event in Atlanta. Regardless of how well a team does on the field though, participants all take away much more than just their memories. High-school aged students come away with real-world engineering experience and technological literacy, and the idea that scientists and engineers are heroes, too. Learning how to think creatively and cooperatively also is inherent in the program as are inspired minds and an idea of a possible career path. That is what FIRST Robotics is all about.

www.usfirst.org

Other Teams in Minnesota

• Team 1623 – Bannerbots - Shattuck St. Mary's School, Faribault
• Team 2052 – KnightKrawler - Irondale High School, New Brighton
• Team 2129 – Ultraviolet - Southwest High School, Minneapolis
• Team 2169 – KING TeC - Prior Lake High School, Savage
• Team 2175 – The Fighting Calculators - Woodbury Math and Science Academy High School, Woodbury
• Team 2177 – The Robettes - Convent of the Visitation High School, Mendota Heights
• Team 2181 – Survivor - Blaine High School, Blaine
• Team 2207 – Prime 329 - White Bear Lake Area High Schools, White Bear Lake
• Team 2220 – Blue Twilight - Eagan High School, Eagan
• Team 2225 – Champlin Park High School, Champlin
• Team 2227 – Fridley High School, Fridley
• Team 2232 – Deus ex Machina - Anoka High School, Anoka
• Team 2239 – Hopkins High School, Minnetonka
• Team 2241 – Coon Rapid High School, Coon Rapids
• Team 2264 – Trojan Robotics - Wayzata High School, Plymouth
• Team 2450 – Cretin-Derham Hall High School, St. Paul
• Team 2470 – Bloomington ISD #271, Bloomington
• Team 2472 – Centennial Senior High School, Circle Pines
• Team 2479 – Alternatives & North High School, Minneapolis
• Team 2480 – Roosevelt High School, Minneapolis
• Team 2488 – Studio Academy High School, Rochester
• Team 2491 – Great River High School, St. Paul
• Team 2498 – BearBotics -- Blake School & The Blake High School, Minneapolis
• Team 2499 – Hibbing High School, Hibbing
• Team 2500 – Henry Heros - Patrick Henry High School, Minneapolis
• Team 2501 – North High School, North St. Paul
• Team 2502 – Eden Prairie High School, Eden Prairie
• Team 2503 – Central Lakes College & Brainerd High School, Brainerd
• Team 2508 – Stillwater Area High School, Stillwater
• Team 2509 – Tigerbots - Hutchinson High School, Hutchinson
• Team 2510 – anishinaabe - Fond du lac Ojibwe School, Cloquet
• Team 2511 – Lakeview High School, Lakeville
• Team 2512 – Central High School & Denfeld High School & Duluth East High School, Duluth
• Team 2513 – T.E.R.T.O.L.A. - Thomas Edison High School, Minneapolis
• Team 2514 – Mahtomedi High School, Mahtomedi
• Team 2515 – Marshall High School, Marshall
• Team 2518 – Spartans - Simley High School, Inver Grove Heights
• Team 2525 – Armstrong High School, Plymouth
• Team 2526 – Maple Grove High School, Maple Grove
• Team 2529 – Humboldt High School, St. Paul
• Team 2530 – Rochester Public Schools, Rochester
• Team 2531 – Chaska High School, Chaska
• Team 2532 – Rangers - Forest Lake Senior High School, Forest Lake
• Team 2535 – Minneapolis South High School, Minneapolis
• Team 2538 – Morris Area High School, Morris
• Team 2545 – Columbia Heights High School, Columbia Heights
• Team 2549 – MPLS-Washburn High School, Minneapolis
• Team 2561 – Arlington High School, Saint Paul
• Team 2572 – Johnson Senior High School, Saint Paul
• Team 2574 – St. Anthony Village High School, Saint Anthony Village
• Team 2606 – Rosemount High School, Rosemount
• Team 2654 – Roseau High School, Roseau
• Team 2667 – Apple Valley High School, Apple Valley

• 37,000 high-schoolers
• Over 1,500 teams
• Over 15,000 mentors
• More than 3,000 other volunteers
• Over 2,000 sponsoring companies
• One identical Kit of Parts
• 6 weeks to build
• 41 Regional Events
• 1 Championship Competition
• Hardest Fun Ever

© 2006-2008 Team 1816 The Green Machine
Edina, MN

Last Updated: April 8, 2008

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