---
title: FIRST
slug: FIRST
---


**FIRST** stands for: **F**or [**I**nspiration](http://wiktionary.org/wiki/inspiration "wiktionary:inspiration" ) and [**R**ecognition](http://wiktionary.org/wiki/recognition "wiktionary:recognition" ) of [**S**cience](http://wiktionary.org/wiki/science "wiktionary:science" ) and [**T**echnology](http://wiktionary.org/wiki/Technology "wiktionary:Technology" ). 

FIRST is an organization founded by inventor [Dean
Kamen](dean-kamen) in 1989 as a way of getting
students involved in and excited about science and technology.

## Mission & Vision

### Vision

> "To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders." -- [Dean Kamen](/index.php/Dean_Kamen "Dean Kamen" ), Founder[[1]](http://usfirst.org/aboutus/content.aspx?id=34 "http://usfirst.org/aboutus/content.aspx?id=34" )

### Mission

> Our mission 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, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.[[2]](http://usfirst.org/aboutus/content.aspx?id=34 "http://usfirst.org/aboutus/content.aspx?id=34" )

## Programs

FIRST has many levels of programs to achieve their vision and mission. The
programs are mostly similar; providing a challenge with a set of rules, a
deadline, and a competition to compete and celebrate the teams achievements.
The different levels of the programs very from complexity, to technical
difficulty.

**As of 2011, FIRST includes:**

  * [FIRST Robotics Competition](frc)
  * [FIRST Tech Challenge](ftc)
  * [FIRST LEGO League](fll )
  * [Junior FIRST LEGO League](jfll )

## International

FIRST is an international organization that currently has teams from
Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark,
Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, India, Israel,
Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, The
Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Saudi Arabia,
Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, the
United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

However, only Brazil, Canada, Israel, Mexico, the Netherlands, the United
Kingdom, and the United States have [FRC](frc) teams.


## External links

  * [Official FIRST Website](http://www.usfirst.org "http://www.usfirst.org" )
  * [ChiefDelphi Forums](http://www.chiefdelphi.com "http://www.chiefdelphi.com" )