About FIRST
The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition is a national contest founded by Dean Kamen in 1992. In 2007, FIRST reached over 130,000 students. The FIRST Robotics program included over 32,500 high school students on 1307 teams at 37 regional events throughout the US, the UK, the Netherlands, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Israel. The competitions are high-tech spectator sporting events; the result of lots of focused brainstorming, real-world teamwork, dedicated mentoring, project timelines, and deadlines. It is an opportunity for the students of Bixby High to work closely with engineers and business professionals from local businesses to get a hands-on, inside look at the real-world competitive environment. At the heart of the program, the 'six intense weeks', students and engineers work together to brainstorm, design, construct and test their "champion robot". With only six weeks, all jobs are a critical part of the process. The teams then compete in a spirited, no-holds-barred tournament complete with referees, cheerleaders and time clocks.
Although the teams are highly competitive, a level of gracious professionalism is maintained. Gracious professionalism involves fierce competition and treating others with respect and kindness. It is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. With gracious professionalism every one is a winner because every one gains something from the experience. To learn more about this nation-wide program and gracious professionalism please go to www.usfirst.org.
The partnerships developed between Bixby Robotics and the Bixby community provides an exchange of resources and talent, highlighting mutual needs, building cooperation, and exposing students to new career choices. The result is a fun, exciting and stimulating environment in which all participants discover the important connection between classroom lessons and real world applications.
Each year, the competition is different, so returning teams always have a new challenge to look forward to. However, the details are kept secret until the unveiling at the Kickoff Event in the first week of January. This provides a high level of excitement as everyone sees the new challenge for the first time and ideas immediately begin forming in people's minds.
