Students First

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Welcome to StudentsFIRST!

Our Mission

StudentsFIRST is a passionate community of students and adults committed to championing student-centered learning within robotics teams. Our vision is to cultivate an inclusive and equitable environment where the joy of discovery flourishes, and every student’s educational journey takes precedence.

Guided by our core values of integrity, collaboration, and innovation, we advocate for more equitable competitions that prioritize learning over winning. We are dedicated to preserving the essence of exploration and creativity, ensuring that students remain at the heart of every team’s endeavors.

robotics

MEMBERS: 3,371

teamS: 100

 

While we are not formally affiliated with FIRST, we uphold its values and principles, striving to embody them in all our actions. Through advocacy, education, and the promotion of student empowerment, StudentsFIRST seeks to redefine the landscape of robotics education, making it a space where every student can thrive and reach their full potential.

Now Accepting Hall of Fame Nominations

While we are working to get students the agency they need to contribute meaningfully on their teams, we also want to acknowledge that the vast majority of mentors and coaches really do put students first. Many mentors, coaches, and volunteers are joining StudentsFIRST because they agree with our goals.

To celebrate the coaches, mentors and volunteers who put students first, we are creating a Hall of Fame on our website. If you would like to nominate a great adult on your team for a StudentsFIRST Hall of Fame award, please email us, Contact@StudentsFIRST.tech, with their name, photo, and a paragraph on why this adult is so special and how they put students first. Please also include your team number. We will add them to our website on the Hall of Fame page, and we will email you a certificate that you can print and present to them.

Recent Comments

  • Coach B on Comments: “This is an awesome idea, and we love that there is a community building around it! When I first took over as the coach for Team XXXX two years ago, their concern and fear about having mentors just design and build the robot was big, and at the forefront of their minds all the time. It impacted their outlook about everything related to robotics, as they took any suggestions by adult mentors as a “you have to do it this way/ let me do this for you” and not a “here is an alternative we should test/ let’s work on this together”. Lots of growth has happened these last two years, we are still just as student designed and built, but now with supports and mentors that help guide the students rather than just doing it themselves.” February 21, 2025
  • Anonymous on Comments: “This is a controversy that has been around as long as I’ve been in FRC. I am not speaking for the team, and in fact have conflicted feelings on this matter. But as mentors we only have one team to help out. So here’s a standing rule for us. No mentor is allowed to cross the threshold of the pit without asking and receiving permission from the pit crew chief. It is generally granted, but with the understanding that it is for instance, for our rather elderly LM emeritus (me!) to sit down for a bit. Whatever the merits of (some degree of) mentors being involved in the design and build process, when I see adults elbow deep into repairs I find it discordant.” February 1, 2025
  • Robin Lee on Comments: “Thanks for the question! They are still in progress. We don’t have a date yet, but we’ll keep you posted.” June 17, 2024
SEE MORE
Become a Member
  • It means you stand up for the students on teams where adults deny students the opportunity to learn and make mistakes.
  • It means you stand up for the student-centered teams that should not have to compete against mentor-built bots.
  • It means you stand up for students who deserve to have agency in how much of their bot is built by adults.
  • It means you want to be a part of the solution to ensure student education is the focus of robotics teams.

Latest Blogs

New Officer Positions – Do You Want to Get More Involved?

New Officer Positions – Do You Want to Get More Involved?

We’d like to welcome Gabe Cook as our new Co-President!... Read More "New Officer Positions – Do You Want to Get More Involved?"
Hey fam! What a relief to be enjoying summer break!

Hey fam! What a relief to be enjoying summer break!

Hey fam! What a relief to be enjoying summer break!... Read More "Hey fam! What a relief to be enjoying summer break!"
Welcome to all our new members who signed up at Worlds last week!

Welcome to all our new members who signed up at Worlds last week!

It was great to meet all of our newest members... Read More "Welcome to all our new members who signed up at Worlds last week!"