Upcoming Events

Oct 26: FLL - Due West Scrimmage

Nov 2: FLL - Orange Grove Scrimmage

Nov 23: FTC - Midlands Scrimmage

Nov 23: FLL - Columbia Qualifier

Nov 23: FLL - Greenville Qualifier

Upcoming Events Oct 26: FLL - Due West Scrimmage Nov 2: FLL - Orange Grove Scrimmage Nov 23: FTC - Midlands Scrimmage Nov 23: FLL - Columbia Qualifier Nov 23: FLL - Greenville Qualifier

WE ARE

FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA

The mission of FIRST South Carolina is to transform the employment horizon and opportunities for our South Carolina students through a fun and engaging exposure to STEM concepts in a holistic educational experience.

What is FIRST?

Founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a global nonprofit (501(c)(3)) organization that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (PreK-12). Our programs are suitable for schools or structured afterschool activities and receive support from a vast network of volunteers, educators, and sponsor/donors, including over 200 Fortune 500 companies.

OVERVIEW OF FIRST PROGRAMS

FIRST LEGO League introduces science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to children ages 4-16* through fun, exciting hands-on learning. FIRST LEGO League participants gain real-world problem-solving experiences through a guided, global robotics program, helping today’s students and teachers build a better future together. In FIRST LEGO League, students engage in hands-on STEM experiences, building confidence, growing their knowledge and developing habits of learning. FIRST LEGO League’s three divisions inspire youth to experiment and grow their critical thinking, coding and design skills through hands-on STEM learning and robotics.

FIRST Tech Challenge teams are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge in an alliance format. Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and working as a team.

The robot kit is reusable from year to year and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming. Teams design and build robots, raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach to earn specific awards. Participants are eligible to apply for $80M+ in college scholarships.

Combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. We call FIRST Robotics Competition the ultimate Sport for the Mind. High-school student participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have.”

Under strict rules, limited time and resources, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. It’s as close to real-world engineering as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. Each season ends with an exciting FIRST Championship.