A Letter from FIRST President, Paul R. Gudonis

“I want us all to think about new and creative ways to engage young people in science and engineering, whether it's science festivals, robotics competitions, fairs that encourage young people to create and build and invent -- to be makers of things, not just consumers of things. I want you to know that I'm going to be working alongside you.”  - President Barack Obama, Remarks at the National Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, April, 2009

Dear FIRST Community,

Just a short time ago, we wrapped up a terrific 2008/09 season in April with an outstanding FIRST Championship at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. We brought home with us so many great memories; so many heartfelt stories to be shared with family and colleagues. We look back in amazement at the contagious energy, team spirit, and overall dedication that is brought to this event by students, parents, teachers, mentors, volunteers, sponsors, and the many supporters of FIRST. Indeed the hardest fun any of us could have.

While it is all fresh in our memories, and on behalf of the entire FIRST organization, I would like to thank everyone who helped make it happen. Particularly, our volunteers who are the lifeblood of FIRST. Thank you to the teams for all their efforts; not only in working hard on managing their projects, meeting deadlines and creating amazing robots, but for all they do to get to the Championship. Fundraising for many teams this year was especially challenging and yet they did it. And of course, a special thanks from me to the entire FIRST organization – an amazingly dedicated and hardworking group of people.

Although the Championship ended only a short time ago, we are already focused on next season. FIRST LEGO League (FLL) opened registration for the new "Smart Move" Challenge that will kick off on September 3. Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr.FLL) is wrapping up its "Climate Connections season and will open registration for "Smart Move" in August. FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is registering teams and will be announcing their new game in September. And the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) game design committee is in session and creating yet another fun and challenging experience.

This year’s Championship brought some significant accomplishments. We announced an alliance with the National 4-H Council as they promote their One Million New Scientists. One Million New Ideas.^TM campaign, and marked our one-year alliance anniversary with the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA). As of the Championship, 1,200 girls had received the GSUSA-FIRST patch. National media coverage was significant this year with “hits” in the Wall Street Journal, ABC World News Tonight, Popular Science and more. And Dean Kamen was granted a patent and trademark application for Coopertition™ and trademark application for Gracious Professionalism™, which he turned over to FIRST during the Championship.

For good reason, there is a part of me that wants to keep thinking about all the great things that happened at the Championship. I hope you enjoy looking at some of the images from the Championship as much I do. But it’s June, and we need to turn our attention to making yet another amazing season happen. 

Have a great summer.

Paul R. Gudonis
FIRST President