FIRST Robotics

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FIRST ROBOTICS at MVCC For Inpiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

The World's Leading Youth-Serving Nonprofit Advancing STEM Education!

Photos of FIRST competitions

Photo of FIRST particpants

FIRST inspires young people to be innovators and team players by engaging them in exciting ways building science, engineering, and technology skills, inspiring invention and experimentation, and fostering self-confidence, perseverance, communication, and leadership. Students experience the application of real-world STEM concepts and achieve hands-on computer programming and rapid-prototyping experience.

For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology

FIRST @ MVCC programming engages over 1,500 youth supporting their STEM adventures in becoming the next generation of science and technology leaders through education, innovation, and teamwork. Each year at MVCC’s NY Excelsior, regional FIRST venues throughout New York State, and hundreds of other sites worldwide, FIRST Tech Challenge teams made up of 7th-12th graders exemplify Gracious Professionalism® and compete with their innovative robots during exciting tournaments!

Photo of FIRST particpants

FIRST Tech Challenge teams use modular metal building components or fabricated custom parts to build their robots based on engineering principles while documenting the entire process. The students design, build, code, and then operate their Android-smartphone-controlled, customized robots to accomplish various tasks on a specialized 12’ x 12’ playing field. Java is used to program the robots for an autonomous portion of each competitive match.

During tournaments, teams strategize together with an alliance partner team to achieve a common goal against another set of two teams. Four robots run on the tournament field at once. Teams earn awards based on robot performance and control, innovation, and documentation of their engineering design process.

FIRST  Programs

final qualifier
FIRST Tech Challenge Events

As a proud Partner Organization for FIRST, MVCC facilitates and hosts many exciting FIRST Tech Challenge youth robotics tournaments for 7th-12th graders in Utica and around New York State from September through March each year!

FIRST Robotics Camps!
FIRST Robotics Camps

Each summer, students ages 6-18 can learn and experience the exciting world of robotics. It’s more than just a pre-collegiate camp — it’s an education and a pathway to a possible career!

It's more than robots
Team Resources

FIRST participants cultivate valuable life-skills such as brainstorming, creative problem solving, collaboration, teamwork, planning, time and money management, as well as research, tool use, and many technical skills!

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Contact FIRST @ MVCC 

FIRST Volunteers

FIRST AT MVCC
FIRST teams and competitions are all POWERED by VOLUNTEERS! Join us!
We can’t do any of this without you.