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
FIRST South Carolina Leadership
Working in collaboration with the international organization, FIRST, FIRST South Carolina is the official FIRST Partner Organization (FPO) for FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competition across South Carolina.
FIRST South Carolina is led by a Board of Directors, an Executive Director, and three Program Delivery Partners. Each program also includes sub-committees formed to help the support of teams and management of events.
FIRST South Carolina Board of Directors
Trish Hallstone
President
Trish.Hallstone@firstsouthcarolina.org
Dr. Hayner has been involved with FIRST programs in SC for 20 years. She earned a BS in Math and Economics and PhD in Business Operations. She has been employed by Bosch for 20 years.
Faith Bongiorno
Vice President
Faith.Bongiorno@firstsouthcarolina.org
Ms. Bongiorno is a former South Carolina educator. She earned a BS in Organizational Management and MS in Human Resource Management from Charleston Southern University. She is employed by FIRST HQ on the Education team.
Darby Hudnall
Secretary
Darby.Hudnall@firstsouthcarolina.org
Ms. Hudnall has a BSE in Mechatronics Engineering. She is currently working on her Master’s in Electrical Engineering at Clemson University. She is employed by Bosch.
Matt Stewart
Alumni Liaison
Matt.Stewart@firstsouthcarolina.org
Mr. Stewart is a FIRST alumnus and current mentor with 6+ years of experience. He is a student at the University of South Carolina studying Mathematics and Game theory.
new board members emails and biographies will post shortly
FIRST South Carolina Staff
Catherine Zende Bowers
FLL Program Delivery Partner
Catherine.Bowers@firstsouthcarolina.org
Catherine has a BS in Science Communication from Winthrop University and works as a technical writer for an automation company. She is an alumna of FIRST Robotics Competition and has served as a mentor and coach in all programs since 2009.
Chris Cortez
FRC & FTC Program Delivery Partner
Chris.Cortez@firstsouthcarolina.org
Chris has an AS, BS in Information Technology and a MS in Information Technology Management, while holding multiple industry certifications. His career spans across non-profit, public and private sectors while holding multiple senior leadership roles. He is an alumnus of FIRST Robotics Competition and has served as a mentor, coach, and volunteer in FRC for 10+ years.
Elizabeth Moon
FIRST Senior Mentor
Elizabeth.Moon@firstsouthcarolina.org
Elizabeth is a South Carolina Educator, serving as a Chemistry teacher in Richland One in Columbia, SC. She has earned a B.S. in Secondary Science Education from Clemson, a M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning from University of South Carolina, and an Ed.S. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Walden University.
Pam Melling
FIRST Senior Mentor
Pam.Melling@firstsouthcarolina.org
Pam has been involved with FIRST for about 13 plus years. She has served as a coach, mentor, judge, state judge advisor, Board Member, and VISTA. She still supports FLL as state judge advisor.
Brynnan Timmerman-Cortez
Public Relations Manager
Brynnan.Cortez@firstsouthcarolina.org
Brynnan began volunteering with FIRST in 2018. She supports FIRST South Carolina by managing our online presence, merchandising, and outreach opportunities.
Join FIRST South Carolina as a key volunteer and be a driving force behind the success of our inspiring STEM programs! As a member of leadership or key volunteer, you'll have the opportunity to mentor and guide students, collaborate with passionate team members, and make a significant impact on the next generation of innovators and leaders. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a dedicated enthusiast, your skills and enthusiasm are invaluable to our mission. Be a part of an empowering community, develop new skills, and experience the joy of seeing young minds thrive.