young people to be science and technology leaders. FIRST Texas FRC Workshops For Inspiration and Recognition of Science & Technology Imagine thousands of people – young and old – cheering on their favorite team of really smart kids. It happens every year and all over the country through FIRST programs.

young people to be science and technology leaders. K through 6 6 through 8 8 through 12 Grade Level FIRST Program Continuum FIRST LEGO League FIRST Tech Challenge FIRST Robotics Competition Jr. FIRST LEGO League What’s happening in your region?

young people to be science and technology leaders. FIRST Scholarships Source: Brandeis University, Center for Youth and Communities, Heller School for Social Policy and Management More than $11 million in scholarship funds available to FIRST participants “I am very thankful for the inspiration that the FIRST experience gave me, and for this scholarship that allows me to be at a top institution, headed for a challenging and intriguing career.” Drew Blackburn, FRC Alumni Georgia Tech FIRST Scholarship Winner

young people to be science and technology leaders. Business Plan Components of a Great Business Plan: Introduction Vision Mission statement Guiding principals Goals –Past –Present –Future Funding, budget, and funding plan List of all sponsors and funds

young people to be science and technology leaders. Business Plan Continued Introduction –School name, Team name and number, coach, mentors, team roster –What is your team approach to FIRST –What competitions do you plan to attend? –Where is your team located? –When/how did your team get started? –Why do you have a FIRST team? –So what? Makes your team unique, how does your team make an impact, why do you care about having an FRC team…

young people to be science and technology leaders. Vision vs. Mission Statement What is a vision statement? What is a mission statement? Outlines what a team wants to be. It focuses on tomorrow; it is inspirational; it provides clear decision-making criteria; and it is timeless. A brief description of your team’s purpose, priorities, values, answering the basic question “Why do we exist?” What are your guiding principles? What are your objectives? A brief description of critical actions for accomplishing the team mission. The fundamental beliefs that guide the operation of your team.

young people to be science and technology leaders. Goals Past Goals –What goals helped your team get to where it is now? –When did you set these goals, and how long did it take to accomplish them? Present Goals –Team organization, fund raising, performance, community outreach –What is your time-frame for accomplishing these goals Future Goals –What are the BHAG’s for your team? –When do you want to complete these? –How do you plan to complete these?

young people to be science and technology leaders. Funding, Budget, & Funding Plan Funding –Where is your funding coming from? –If the team has multiple sources, what/who are they, and how much are they for? –If your sources have logos, be sure and display them Budget –Revenue vs. Expenses –Are expenses more than revenues? –Are revenues more than expenses?

young people to be science and technology leaders. Funding Plan –Sponsors –Why would they want to sponsor your team? –What benefits will they receive? –Fundraisers –What fundraisers do you plan to have? –When do you plan to have them? –How much will the fundraiser cost the team? –How much does the team expect to raise? –Grant Applications –What organizations do you plan to apply to for grants? –How much will you ask for? –When will you complete grant applications? –What are other sources of funding? Funding, Budget, & Funding Plan

young people to be science and technology leaders. List of Sponsors & Funders Recognize and thank everyone who sponsors and contributes to your team! List them by name and use their logos List how they help your team succeed Show a sample thank you letter signed by your team that includes the value of their contribution

young people to be science and technology leaders. Great Resources!!! Team 341, team in a box – Team 365 Momentum Calendar for 1 st Year Teams – Cybersonics Technology Team 103 has designed the "FIRST Interactive Rural Support" – NEMO (Non-Engineering Mentor Organization) is a support group and information exchange for those adult non- engineering mentors who help teamsNEMO – Chief Delphi, A very popular site run by Team 47Chief Delphi –

young people to be science and technology leaders. FRC Awards Woodie Flowers Award Website Award Kleiner Perkins Caufield &Byers Entrepreneurship Award: Chairman’s Award

young people to be science and technology leaders. Woodie Flowers Award Purpose of award: To honor an adult team member who has provided the FRC team with a good understanding of challenges and opportunities through engineering and design. Specific judging criteria are based on the team’s description of how the mentor inspired each member of the team in some or all of the following ways: – Level of student participation –Effort in creativity –Clear explanation of and enthusiasm for math, scientific, and engineering concepts –Demonstration of enthusiasm for science and engineering –Encourages teamwork –Inspiration to use problem-solving skills and communicate effectively To apply: Essays are submitted online. Deadline: Thursday, February 18, 2010

young people to be science and technology leaders. Website Award Purpose of award: Recognizes excellence in student-designed, built, and managed FIRST team websites. Three subcategories: –Website Excellence – Website meets FIRST Website Standards of Excellence. –Regional Best Website - One award will be given at each Regional Competition. –Championship Best Website – One award will be chosen from among the Regional Best. Website award winners. A team does not have to attend Championship to be considered for this award. To apply: Submit a website link. Deadline: Approximately 2 weeks before your regional competition.

young people to be science and technology leaders. Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Entrepreneurship Award Purpose of award: To recognize a team which has developed framework through a comprehensive business plan to obtain team objectives. Selected team will: Display entrepreneurial enthusiasm and the vital business skills for a self- sustaining program. To apply: Develop and provide a formal business plan to the judges during the pit interview process. Teams should be prepared to talk about their plan at that time. Deadline: Date of your regional competition

young people to be science and technology leaders. Chairman’s Award Purpose of award: To recognize the team that best represents the spirit of FIRST and acts as a role model for other teams. It remains FIRST’s most prestigious award. To apply: - Submit a team video - Participate in a team interview during your regional competition Your team video project will: –Document the impact FIRST has had on your team’s learning experience –Explain why your team is a role model for other FRC teams –Tell of how your team communicates excitement with your school, community, state/nation, through your participation with FIRST –Show innovative ways your team has spread the message of FIRST –Provide detail about your team’s year-round partnership with students, corporate sponsors, university sponsors, engineers, and others in the community Deadline: Thursday, February 18, 2010

young people to be science and technology leaders. FRC Awards Other awards: - Autodesk Visualization Award - Autodesk Inventor Award - For more information on all FIRST awards: - Check out FRC > Game & Season Information > Awardswww.usfirst.org