FIRST (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded by Dean Kamen in 1989. It is an organization designed to promote interest in science, technology, engineering, and math among students ages six to eighteen by creating competitions for designing, building, and programming robots to perform specific tasks and challenges. A central theme of FIRST is the practice of Gracious Professionalism, which values teamwork, sportsmanship, and community. FIRST sponsors four competitions: FLL, Jr. FLL, FTC, and FRC. To read more about these competitions, click below: FLL FTC FRC Jr. FLL is for students ages 6-9. Students design, build, and program a robot to complete several tasks. They also create a project to solve a real-world problem. Click here to visit FIRST's website.