FIRST

The FIRST community is filled with bright young minds eager to make a positive difference in their communities and beyond through STEM. Giving to FIRST is an investment in these future innovators and leaders who will help to build a tomorrow of endless possibilities. Support the FIRST mission: https://hubs.ly/Q03rx4s90

Just weeks before a record-breaking milestone of 51,000+ FIRST community members gathering for the 2026 FIRST Championship presented by BAE Systems, another historic achievement was happening nearby. NASA’s Artemis II mission became the first crewed journey to the moon in more than 50 years, guided from Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, miles from FIRST Championship.

We caught up with Jenna, a FIRST alum, current team mentor, and Planning and Integration Specialist at Johnson Space Center to learn how her FIRST experience helped launch a career supporting humanity’s return to deep space.

🚀 Read her story: https://hubs.ly/Q04kwcCZ0

Meet the FIRST Alum Helping Shape the Future of Space Exploration Discover how FIRST alum Jenna influences space exploration at NASA, inspiring the next generation of engineers through mentorship and innovative programs.

What do Survivor, STEM and robotics have in common? Strategy, adaptability, and collaboration.

In a new story for Inside Higher Ed, Christian Hubicki shares how his experience in academia and on Survivor connects to his continued support for STEM education, including his support for FIRST and efforts to expand robotics learning opportunities for students.

Read more:

Tribal Council in the Lecture Hall: Why Higher Ed Loves Survivor As the reality TV series reaches the finale of its 50th season, Inside Higher Ed spoke to more than half a dozen faculty contestants about what drew them to the show and how they’ve incorporated their fandom into their classes.

Drop an emoji in the comments 👇 Which one are you?

🤖Gen Alpha
✌️Gen Z
❤ Millennial
😎Gen X

And be honest… if you weren’t already part of FIRST, which style would pull you in?

Get ready to grow! During , the FIRST community will draw inspiration from the world around us to build stronger communities and a healthier planet. 🌎 Learn more about our biodiversity-inspired season: https://hubs.ly/Q04hS_r_0

João’s journey with FIRST started as a student on “Fran Robots.” Today, he’s come full circle, returning as a mentor for the same team while also volunteering with FIRST Robotics Competition in Brazil to help inspire the next generation through STEAM. 💡

Through the Passaporte para o Futuro SESI-SP scholarship program, João was selected to study abroad at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he is pursuing dual degrees in Computer Science and Data Science.

Inspired by his experiences in FIRST, João is committed to using mentorship, technology, and education to create opportunities for young people in his community.

Learn more about João’s journey from FIRST student to mentor and how he’s using STEAM to help shape the future: https://hubs.ly/Q04j8SXh0

FIRST Alum Turned Mentor Earns Scholarship and Pursues STEAM João, a FIRST alum and mentor, shares his inspiring journey in STEAM, showcasing the impact of mentorship and education on young minds.

From coding and engineering to design thinking and community outreach, STEM problem-solving drives everything we do in the FIRST community!

As you prepare for the season, check out guidance from industry experts, hear stories from FIRST teams, and find tools to turn your team’s ideas into solutions that make an impact.

Explore our innovation and intellectual property resources: https://hubs.ly/Q04bWqby0

Long-standing FIRST Strategic Partner, John Deere is deepening its investment in the next generation of innovators through a new three-year partnership.

With a $2.7 million investment and the support of more than 500 employee mentors, John Deere is helping connect FIRST students across the country to hands-on robotics experiences and real-world pathways to careers in agriculture, manufacturing, and technology.

Read the full press release to learn how this expanded partnership is helping students build the skills, confidence, and career readiness needed for tomorrow’s workforce:

John Deere Invests $2.7M to Build Skills for Tomorrow’s Workforce MOLINE, Ill. (April 21, 2026) — John Deere announced a three-year partnership with FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), building on their fifteen-year partnership to continue expanding access to hands-on robotics programs that build the technical skills critical to ...