FIRST Wisconsin

FIRST is an organization that operates after-school robotics programs for young people in the United States and internationally. The mission of FIRST is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, inspire innovation, and foster well-rounded capacities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership. FIRST has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school. Boosted by a global support system of mentors, coaches, volunteers, alumni, and sponsors that include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, and build robots, then compete and celebrate at local, regional, and international events. The FIRST Core Values emphasize friendly sportsmanship, respect for the contributions of others, teamwork, learning, and community involvement and are part of our commitment to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion. The sequence of FIRST programs begins with FIRST® LEGO® League and includes Discover (ages 4-6), Explore (ages 6-10) and Challenge (ages 9-14), followed by the FIRST® Tech Challenge serving grades 7-12, and FIRST® Robotics Competition, serving high school-aged youth (grades 9- 12). FIRST estimates in 2019-2020, the programs reached over 679,000 young people worldwide. The ethos of FIRST include Coopertition® and Gracious Professionalism® . At FIRST, Coopertition is displaying unqualified kindness and respect in the face of fierce competition. Coopertition is founded on the concept and a philosophy that teams can and should help and cooperate with each other even as they compete. Coopertition involves learning from teammates. It is teaching teammates. It is learning from Mentors. And it is managing and being managed. Coopertition means competing always, but assisting and enabling others when you can. Gracious Professionalism® is 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. One can add to society and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing one has acted with integrity and sensitivity. In the long run, Gracious Professionalism is part of pursuing a meaningful life. We look forward to welcoming you to the FIRST Community!

Volunteers graciously share their time and expertise in a variety of volunteer roles ranging from mentoring youth, coaching, or providing guidance to a robotics team in their professional area (business, engineering, soft skills, etc.) to assisting at an event in either technical (robot inspection) or non-technical (welcome table,room monitor, assist with check in, etc.) roles. We emphasize that FIRST is about "more than robots" and there is a role for everyone in many different areas! Volunteers create an account at firstinspires.org to register for an event or mentoring a team.