About FIRST/FTC

What is FIRST

FIRST is an extracurricular program that creates opportunities for kids who are interested in STEM and applies it through robotics. The program inspires curiosity and discovery and encourages kids to think like engineers. Teams design, build, and program robots to complete challenges in competition to earn points. All this engineering is done without any sort of guidelines. Teams are given restrictions for the robot, but all the creativity and innovation is ours to fabricate. FIRST fosters teamwork and problem-solving and teaches kids to collaborate and communicate while designing a robot to compete with.

"FIRST® inspires young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership."

FIRST Website- https://www.firstinspires.org

Gracious Professionalism:

The core concept of FIRST is gracious professionalism. To GigaBite, gracious professionalism means encouraging one another and using our experiences to learn and grow. It also means to be kind and have good sportsmanship, both to other teams and to one another. We work together and use our unique perspectives to lift each other up and support each other. Gracious Professionalism is a critical concept that has been taught to us through the experience of participating in FIRST robotics, and it's something we'll carry throughout our futures.

What is FTC?

FTC is one of the three branches of FIRST robotics programs:

• FIRST Lego League (FLL) - FLL introduces robotics to kids ages 4-16 through fun, hands-on STEM experiences. Teams collaborate to complete challenges with Lego robots that need to be designed and coded. Teams must also complete separate components such as the "Innovation Project". Many of our team members got introduced to FIRST by participating in FLL in middle school.

• FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) - FTC teaches participants grades 7-12 to build and design robots to compete in head-to-head challenges in alliances with other teams. With guidance from mentors and coaches, teams work together to build a robot, fundraise, document their engineering design process, and reach out to their communities. The challenge itself changes each year, but the process stays the same. Teams must brainstorm and prototype to bring their ideas to life and onto the competition field.

• FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) - FRC is often called "the hardest fun you'll ever have". Under strict restrictions and limited time and resources, teams made up of kids ages 14-18 are challenged to create a team "brand", design an industrial-sized robot, and raise funds. FIRST calls FRC "the ultimate sport for the mind".