FIRST® Robotics Competition is a multi-national competition in which high-school students work side-by-side with science and engineering professionals and other adult mentors, to solve an engineering design problem in an intense and competitive way. Using a standard “Kit of Parts,” a common set of rules, limited resources, and time constraints, FRC teams are challenged to design, build, and program a 120-pound robot to perform the tasks of the season’s game against a field of competitors in a sports-like event, as well as raise funds, design a team “brand,” and hone teamwork skills.

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The competitions are high-tech spectator sporting events played on fields the size of a basketball half-court, and are the product of focused brainstorming, real-world teamwork, dedicated mentoring, project timelines, and deadlines. “Winning” is not solely defined by which team’s robot scores the most points. FIRST® also awards FRC teams for their achievements in areas such as excellence in design, creativity, innovation, business, marketing, and Gracious Professionalism. The FRC program is a life-changing, career-molding experience that is as close to “real-world” engineering as a student can get.