Nonprofit FIRST Allocates $50 Million for High School, College Scholarships in 2017

Image Credit: FIRST.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an international nonprofit organization founded to inspire youth to participate in science and technology, has hit a milestone achievement of $50 million for its college scholarship program for high school and college students interested in STEM.

The FIRST Scholarship Program connects participants in the organization’s two robotics competitions — FIRST Tech Challenge (for students in grades 7 to 12) and FIRST Robotics Challenge (for high schoolers) — with higher education institutions, corporations, associations and FIRST alumni. The program is supported by nearly 200 organizations, such as the Stevens Institute of Technology, and makes almost 2,000 college scholarship opportunities available.  

“At Stevens Institute of Technology, hands-on learning opportunities are central to the development of leadership skills and innovative thinking among our students. Stevens’ collaborations with FIRST are a natural extension of this belief,” said Nariman Farvardin, president of the Stevens Institute of Technology, in a news release. “Many bright FIRST alumni have become Stevens students that give back to the program through volunteerism and mentorship, or help to host FIRST competitions on campus.”

A video highlighting the FIRST Robotics Challenge can be found below. To learn more about the program, visit the FIRST Scholarship Program site.

About the Author

Sri Ravipati is Web producer for THE Journal and Campus Technology. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • abstract interconnected AI neural networks merging into a single central hub

    OpenAI to Unify AI Models with GPT-5 Launch

    OpenAI has scrapped plans to release its o3 model, opting instead for a "simplified" product lineup centered on its upcoming GPT-5 product.

  • robot typing on a computer

    Microsoft Announces 'Computer Use' Automation in Copilot Studio

    Microsoft has introduced a new AI-powered feature called "computer use" for its Copilot Studio platform that allows agents to directly interact with Web sites and desktop applications using simulated mouse clicks, menu selections and text inputs.

  • college building with a central domed rotunda, arched windows, and columns, overlaid with glowing blue circuit patterns

    Kishwaukee College Moves to Ellucian Colleague SaaS

    Illinois's Kishwaukee College is modernizing its administrative systems with an Ellucian Colleague SaaS rollout that will bring AI-powered tools to human resources, finance, and student management.

  • From Fire TV to Signage Stick: University of Utah's Digital Signage Evolution

    Jake Sorensen, who oversees sponsorship and advertising and Student Media in Auxiliary Business Development at the University of Utah, has navigated the digital signage landscape for nearly 15 years. He was managing hundreds of devices on campus that were incompatible with digital signage requirements and needed a solution that was reliable and lowered labor costs. The Amazon Signage Stick, specifically engineered for digital signage applications, gave him the stability and design functionality the University of Utah needed, along with the assurance of long-term support.