Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.0, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Students First ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://studentsfirst.tech/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Blog](https://studentsfirst.tech/blog/) - [Be Part of StudentsFIRST: Here’s How You Can Help](https://studentsfirst.tech/be-part-of-studentsfirst-heres-how-you-can-help/) - Be Part of StudentsFIRST: Here’s How You Can Help StudentsFIRST is all about empowering students to take the lead on their robotics teams. Mentors, supporters, and friends of the program play a big role in making that happen. Here’s how you can get involved: 1. Show Your Support Online Display our StudentsFIRST logo or “This - [What Robin says is “100% accurate” – Jack in the Bot Mentor](https://studentsfirst.tech/what-robin-says-is-100-accurate-jack-in-the-bot-mentor/) - What Robin says is “100% accurate” – Jack in the Bot Mentor ROBIN LEEFounder of StudentsFirst Hi StudentsFIRST community!I have great news. Here in the land of Jack in the Bot an adult mentor corroborated everything I’ve been saying!! As I’ve shared with you already, coaches and mentors are building Jack in the Bot’s robots instead - [New Officer Positions - Do You Want to Get More Involved?](https://studentsfirst.tech/new-officer-positions-do-you-want-to-get-more-involved/) - We’d like to welcome Gabe Cook as our new Co-President! This year Robin Lee (StudentsFIRST Founder) and Gabe will be Co-Presidents. Gabe was one of the original Officers for StudentsFIRST and provided invaluable early support. Thank you, Gabe, for stepping up to the Co-President role! Here are some words from Gabe: Welcome back teams, fans - [Breaking Barriers: Scholarships for Women in Robotics and STEM Careers](https://studentsfirst.tech/breaking-barriers-scholarships-for-women-in-robotics-and-stem-careers/) - August 28th StudentsFIRST in conjunction with Fully Loaded Electronics and the Eun Hee Lee memorial scholarship fund is now offering three college scholarships to women of Asian descent facing economic obstacles that are interested in careers in robotics. If you're interested in applying, please write an essay about how economic hardship has effected you and - [Hey fam! What a relief to be enjoying summer break!](https://studentsfirst.tech/hey-fam-what-a-relief-to-be-enjoying-summer-break/) - Hey fam! What a relief to be enjoying summer break! Here at StudentsFIRST we’re looking ahead to upcoming off-season competitions and the start of the school year for robotics teams. The start of the new school year is a new beginning for a team. This year you might have different teammates, mentors, and maybe even - [Welcome to StudentsFIRST!](https://studentsfirst.tech/welcome-to-studentsfirst/) - So far we have heard from dozens of students and adults across the US about adult-overinvolvement they have experienced or witnessed. StudentsFIRST is dedicated to sharing your voices and ideas with the FIRST organization. We emailed the person we’re working with at FIRST on January 7 to communicate that we’re working on these reform ideas, - [StudentsFIRST founder, Robin Lee](https://studentsfirst.tech/studentsfirst-founder-robin-lee/) - StudentsFIRST founder, Robin Lee, was a member of Team 2910 Jack-in-the-Bot and was kicked off the team for saying privately that the mentors treat the students like they are “disposable.” The head coach was determined to keep students from discussing the adult overreach that was rampant on the team. While Robin had kept the team’s secret - [Thank you to everyone for sharing your thoughts!](https://studentsfirst.tech/thank-you-to-everyone-for-sharing-your-thoughts/) - Thank you to everyone for sharing your thoughts! You can read many of the comments we have received so far in our Comments section, and you can also share a comment there. - [Goal #1 Completed! Success is in the Conversation](https://studentsfirst.tech/goal-1-completed-success-is-in-the-conversation/) - Since StudentsFIRST launched last week we have met our first goal – to start a conversation about how much adults should be involved in building the robots. There have been lively discussions on many platforms. Maybe it’s just because of our stated purpose, but for every 80 messages I get supporting StudentsFIRST, I only get - [Become a StudentsFIRST Team](https://studentsfirst.tech/become-a-studentsfirst-team/) - Does your team put students first? Let the world know by signing up your team as a member of StudentsFIRST! We’ll email you a sign to put at your pits and our logo so you can put it on your website. If we raise enough money we’ll also send fun buttons and stickers. Click the “Become a - [StudentsFIRST Hall of Fame Awards](https://studentsfirst.tech/studentsfirst-hall-of-fame-awards/) - 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. In fact, many mentors, coaches, and volunteers are joining StudentsFIRST because they agree with our goals. To celebrate coaches, mentors and volunteers - [Who Wants Buttons?!?](https://studentsfirst.tech/who-wants-buttons/) - StudentsFIRST swag is in! We have free buttons and stickers, and signs for your pit saying “This team puts StudentsFIRST.” To get your free swag, simply email us your name, team number, address, and how many stickers and buttons you want.Contact@StudentsFIRST.tech - [Why be a part of StudentsFIRST?](https://studentsfirst.tech/why-be-a-part-of-studentsfirst/) - Because educating students should be the focus of robotics teams Because students deserve to have agency on their own teams to decide how much mentor input is okay Because even among mostly heroic coaches and mentors, there are a few bad apples Because FIRST lacks a mechanism to protect students from toxic adults Because students - [Show Your Support!](https://studentsfirst.tech/show-your-support/) - Show that you think student education should be the focus of robotics teams by wearing a StudentsFIRST button. They’re free! If you’d like buttons for yourself, your team, or even to share at events, simply email us your name, team number, address, and the quantity of buttons you would like. Contact@StudentsFIRST.tech So far, StudentsFIRST has fulfilled - [February Survey](https://studentsfirst.tech/february-survey/) - Thank you to everyone who participated in the January survey and who shared their thoughts with emails and comments on our website. We heard you all loud and clear! One common theme that emerged was the idea that students deserve to have agency in how their team is run. If mentors and coaches are building the robot, - [Congratulations to StudentsFIRST Team 4230, TopperBots, for qualifying for Worlds!](https://studentsfirst.tech/congratulations-to-studentsfirst-team-4230-topperbots-for-qualifying-for-worlds/) - [StudentsFIRST Invitational Competitions – Coming Soon!](https://studentsfirst.tech/studentsfirst-invitational-competitions-coming-soon/) - Does your team put student education first? If so, we hope you’ll join us for the StudentsFIRST Invitational Competitions! We’re currently planning 2 invitational events for this calendar year. Stay tuned for dates and locations! - [StudentsFIRST Panel at Worlds](https://studentsfirst.tech/studentsfirst-panel-at-worlds/) - StudentsFIRST will have a panel at the World Championships in Houston, Texas. We hope you’ll come and say hi so we can meet and discuss ideas in person. Unfortunately FIRST has not granted us a panel, however we will be hanging out in the park during lunchtime each day. I hope you will come find us - [Check out our Membership Map!](https://studentsfirst.tech/check-out-our-membership-map/) - Thank you to everyone who has joined StudentsFIRST over the last few months. I can’t believe we just started StudentsFIRST in late January. In just about 50 days individuals and teams have joined StudentsFIRST from all over the world. If you haven’t done so already, check out our Membership Map. Membership Map Currently, StudentsFIRST members span - [Free Swag!](https://studentsfirst.tech/free-swag/) - Show that you think student education should be the focus of robotics teams by wearing StudentsFIRST swag. It’s all free, including the shipping! If you’d like buttons for yourself, your team, or even to share at events, simply email us your name, team number, address, and the quantity of buttons you would like. Contact@StudentsFIRST.tec After you have your - [March Survey – How can we help you?](https://studentsfirst.tech/march-survey-how-can-we-help-you/) - In this month’s survey we’re asking, How can StudentsFIRST help you? The survey has many options plus a write in section. Here are some of the options: Provide an editable template for an Adults Code of Conduct Advocate for your interests with FIRST state, regional and national organizations Be a third party to tell your coaches - [February Survey Comments](https://studentsfirst.tech/february-survey-comments/) - Thank you to everyone who completed the February survey! Here are some of the comments we received from survey participants Right now, our students come up with the initial ideas, the mentors base a design (CAD model) around that, and then the students build the bot. Programming is harder to say. We have very few students - [See you at Worlds!](https://studentsfirst.tech/see-you-at-worlds/) - Congratulations to everyone who will be at Worlds next week! I (Robin) will be there, along with fellow officers Gabe Cook and Chloe Smith. We will be hanging out in the park during lunchtime each day with buttons, t-shirts, and more. Come say hi! - [Welcome to all our new members who signed up at Worlds last week!](https://studentsfirst.tech/welcome-to-all-our-new-members-who-signed-up-at-worlds-last-week/) - It was great to meet all of our newest members and to talk in person with members who have already been with StudentsFIRST for a while. Your enthusiasm for prioritizing student education was amazing! I have more confidence than ever that together we can make positive change in the robotics community. Soon I’ll share more - [StudentsFIRST Blog](https://studentsfirst.tech/students-first-blog/) - 4/25/24Welcome to all our new members who signed up at Worlds last week! It was great to meet all of our newest members and to talk in person with members who have already been with StudentsFIRST for a while. Your enthusiasm for prioritizing student education was amazing! I have more confidence than ever that together - [Comments](https://studentsfirst.tech/comments/) ## Pages - [Home](https://studentsfirst.tech/) - 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, - [Maps and Pins](https://studentsfirst.tech/maps-and-pins/) - MAPS and PINS Where are all the members of StudentsFIRST? Check out the maps below. - [StudentsFIRST Teams](https://studentsfirst.tech/studentsfirst-teams/) - TEAMS Teams all over the world have joined StudentsFirst to show their support for student education. Here are just a few: Rockets Team 34 Athens, Alabama The Mechanical Bulls Team 810 Smithtown, New York Demons Robotics Team 858 Wyoming, Michigan Vae Victis Team 1418 Falls Church, Virginia The Ravonics Revolution Team 1710 Olathe, Kansas Steel - [Hall of Fame](https://studentsfirst.tech/hall-of-fame/) - Mark Rocheleau Lead Mentor, FRC Team 1277 “The Robotomies” | Engineering & Robotics Educator | Groton-Dunstable Regional High School Mark Rocheleau is a dedicated educator and mentor affiliated with FIRST Robotics Team 1277, the Robotomies, based at Groton-Dunstable Regional High School in Massachusetts. As a Technology/Engineering and Robotics teacher, he has been instrumental in fostering - [Officers](https://studentsfirst.tech/officers/) - StudentsFIRST Is A Student Founded, Organized, And Led Association Officers Robin Lee Founder and PresidentMill Creek, Washington 12th grade student Jackson High FIRST participant since the 5th grade FIRST volunteer, annually volunteering over 150 hours Founder YMCA Mill Creek Lego Robotics club Founder 3 FLL teams Founder of RoboExplorers.org, an online resource for YMCAs across - [Gallery](https://studentsfirst.tech/gallery/) - [Donation](https://studentsfirst.tech/donation/) - Donate to our GoFundMe. Funds are spent on buttons, stickers, signs and tshirts. As of March 2024, StudentsFIRST has fulfilled requests for 18,230 buttons, 16,845 stickers, 9,671 info cards, 537 laminated signs that say “This team puts StudentsFIRST, and 108 tshirts.” At this time, donations are not tax-deductible. We are in the process of getting - [Contact Us](https://studentsfirst.tech/contact-us/) - Email us at RobinLeeWrites1@gmail.com We Can Help You Do you need help with adult over-involvement on your team? We’re here to help! Email us at RobinLeeWrites1@gmail.com. We will help you understand your options, show you how to connect with FIRST, and we can keep you totally anonymous. RobinLeeWrites1@gmail.com - [Become a Member](https://studentsfirst.tech/become-a-member/) - JOIN US! Join our team and receive emails about what we’re up to, what people are saying, and provide your input on what StudentsFIRST should do next. Become a Member MEMBERS Become a member today and get regular email updates on our efforts. Simply provide your information here. Please enable JavaScript in your browser to - [Resources](https://studentsfirst.tech/resources/) - Here at StudentsFIRST We want to give students the resources to help you talk to the adults on your team, set boundaries, and communicate clear expectations for their behavior. To that end, here’s a document you can download, edit, and present to your team. These guidelines aim to enhance the learning experience and maintain a respectful, - [About Us](https://studentsfirst.tech/about-us/) - How did StudentsFIRST.tech get started? Robin Lee, the founder of StudentsFIRST.tech, has a rich background in robotics, having been a member of robotics teams since elementary school. Robin’s journey took an unexpected turn when they were on Jack-in-the-Bot FRC Team 2910 and they privately expressed concerns about the dynamics between mentors and students on the - [Our Community](https://studentsfirst.tech/our-community/) - StudentsFIRST Is A Student Founded, Organized, And Led Association Officers Robin Lee Founder and PresidentMill Creek, Washington 11th grade student Jackson High FIRST participant since the 5th grade FIRST volunteer, annually volunteering over 150 hours Founder YMCA Mill Creek Lego Robotics club Founder 3 FLL teams Founder of RoboExplorers.org, an online resource for YMCAs across - [History & Freedom of Speech](https://studentsfirst.tech/history-freedom-of-speech/) - How did StudentsFIRST.tech get started? StudentsFIRST.tech founder, Robin Lee, was a member of Team 2910 Jack-in-the-Bot and was kicked off the team for saying privately that the mentors treat the students like they are “disposable.” The head coach and other adults on the team were determined to keep students from discussing the adult overreach that - [Student-Centered Robotics](https://studentsfirst.tech/student-centered-robotics/) - Student Education Student education should be the focus of robotics teams. Students’ primary focus should be on learning, rather than winning. It is crucial for adults involved in these teams to prioritize teaching over doing. According to FIRST Robotics, mentors and coaches have a significant responsibility in guiding, supporting, and inspiring the students participating in - [Ideas for Change](https://studentsfirst.tech/ideas-for-change/) - Here are just some of the ideas that StudentsFIRST is exploring. We want to know what you think! Write a Comment January Survey Here are the final results from our January survey. We had 125 responses that were:50% – students43% – mentors The other 7% were volunteers, coaches, parents, and alumni.Our next question was whether - [FAQs](https://studentsfirst.tech/faqs/) - Do StudentsFIRST members hate all coaches and mentors? A: No, we don’t hate all coaches and mentors. We know that the majority of coaches and mentors truly put students first and we celebrate them with our Hall of Fame. StudentsFIRST was formed to support students whose coaches and mentors have taken over the robotics program, - [Top FRC Mascots!](https://studentsfirst.tech/top-frc-mascots/) - Which team has your favorite mascot? #1 Team 2506 Saber Robotics#2 Team 1071 Aqua 3 Way Tie For #3 #3 Team 100 Wildhats#3 Team 2551 Penguin Empire#3 Team 7461 Sushi Squad - [Sponsors](https://studentsfirst.tech/sponsors/) - We are very grateful to our wonderful corporate sponsors! McKinney Engineering Instinctive Analytics Fully Loaded Electronics Visual Options Snow FX Splash! RobinLeeWrites1@gmail.com ## My Templates - [Community](https://studentsfirst.tech/?elementor_library=community) - StudentsFIRST Is A Student Founded, Organized, And Led Association Officers Robin Lee Founder and PresidentMill Creek, Washington 11th grade student Jackson High FIRST participant since the 5th grade FIRST volunteer, annually volunteering over 150 hours Founder YMCA Mill Creek Lego Robotics club Founder 3 FLL teams Founder of RoboExplorers.org, an online resource for YMCAs across - [Old Home](https://studentsfirst.tech/?elementor_library=old-home) - Welcome to StudentsFIRST! StudentsFIRST is a group of students and adults working to ensure student education is the focus of robotics teams. Our goal is to advocate for more equitable competitions, preserve the delight of discovery, build student-centered teams, and live up to FIRST’s values. StudentsFIRST is not a part of FIRST(c). Join Us! Let’s - [Default Kit](https://studentsfirst.tech/?elementor_library=default-kit) ## Elementor Header & Footer Builder - [Header](https://studentsfirst.tech/elementor-hf/header/) - Menu Home About Us Officers Become a Member Teams Maps and Pins Contact Menu Gallery Blog Comments Donation FAQs Hall of Fame ## Categories - [Blog](https://studentsfirst.tech/category/blog/) - [Students First Blog](https://studentsfirst.tech/category/students-first-blog/)