“For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology” (FIRST) is a nonprofit organization established in 1989 by inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen. While it is perhaps best known for its flagship event, the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), FIRST’s mission extends far beyond just this competition. The FRC is an international high school robotics event where teams of students, guided by professional mentors and college students, design, build, and program robots to compete in game-themed challenges within a tight six-week timeframe. However, the essence of FRC goes beyond mere robotics. By integrating the principle of “gracious professionalism,” it marries technological prowess with a deep-seated appreciation for science, technology, and collaboration. This creates an enriching environment where participants acquire not only technical skills but also values like teamwork, leadership, and community engagement. Additionally, FIRST actively encourages its teams to promote and amplify the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) within their communities and society at large. Recognizing the diverse needs and resources of various educational communities, FIRST offers other programs as well. The FIRST Tech Challenge serves high school teams that might not have the ample resources for FRC. For the younger cohort, there’s the FIRST Lego League and the FIRST Lego League Jr., aimed at igniting a passion for STEM from an early age. For a comprehensive understanding of all FIRST’s endeavors and their impact, interested parties can visit FIRSTInspires.org.