Oscoda FIRST Robotics Program
OSCODA FIRST·TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018·
We are excited to announce the Oscoda FIRST Robotics Program! We look forward to seeing what our young team can do. FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is the world’s leading child serving nonprofit advancing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Founded by inventor Dean Kamen in 1989
, FIRST has evolved into a global movement by engaging millions of people with a proven game-changer for preparing kids to solve the world’s greatest problems. FIRST programs inspire innovation and leadership through engaging, hands-on robotics challenges developed to ignite curiosity and passion in students in grades K-12. FIRST builds powerful mentorship relationships between young people and STEM professionals, helping kids gain confidence to explore the innovation process while they learn valuable science, engineering, technology, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. FIRST creates the people who will change the world – today and tomorrow. The FIRST ® Robotics Competition for Grades 9-12 (ages 14 to 18) is an annual competition that helps young people discover the rewards and excitement of education and careers in science, engineering, and technology. The program challenges high-school-aged students – working with professional Mentors – to design and build a robot, and compete in high-intensity events that reward the effectiveness of each robot, the power of team strategy and collaboration, and the determination of students. In 1992, the initial FIRST Robotics Competition took place with 28 teams in a high school gym in New Hampshire. In 2018, the largest-ever season will include 3,650 teams from 27 countries competing in 85 District Events, 10 District Championships, and 63 Regional Events, as well as FIRST Championship Houston at the George R. Brown Convention Center, April 18-21, 2018, and FIRST Championship St. Throughout their FIRST experience, students gain maturity, build self-confidence, learn teamwork, and gain an understanding of professionalism. Students have fun while building a network of friends and professional mentors who enrich their lives. Any FIRST Robotics Competition participant is eligible to apply for more than $50 million in scholarships from leading colleges and universities. Young people gain the skills and knowledge to fill one of the more than two million STEM-related positions available in the U.S. today. Sponsors benefit by finding future employees and interns. Mentors benefit from renewed inspiration and a reminder as to why they chose science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) as a career. Volunteers are recognized as an integral and vital part of the way in which young people connect to the real world, in their own communities and in the world at large. The majority of FIRST Robotics Competition participants participate in key STEM activities on the team and experience gains in a number of outcomes, for example*:
📷 91% expressed an increased interest in going to college
📷 88% expressed an increased interest in doing well in school
📷 97% expressed an increased desire to learn more about STEM
📷 92% gained self-confidence
📷 99% increased teamwork skills
📷 95% increased leadership skills
📷 99% felt better able to solve unexpected problems
