FTC December Update

12/16/22

• Important Dates
• League Tournament Information
• FIRST Day at the Statehouse
• Dean’s List Nominations
• AndyMark Video Contest
• Championship Housing Fraud Alert
• Season Resources
• Scholarship Opportunities
• Need Help?  Reach out!

Dean’s List Nominations

In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding secondary school students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected 10^th and 11^th grade students known as the FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge Dean’s List Award.

Similar to the very prestigious National Merit Scholarship Award winners, there are three (3) “categories” of
FIRST Dean’s List Award students:

1. FIRST Dean’s List Semi-finalists – comprised of the two (2) students in their 10^th or 11^th grade school year nominated by each team.
2. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists – comprised of the students 3 (IN) recognized at the State Championship.
3. FIRST Dean’s List Winners – comprised of the ten (10) FIRST Robotics Competition and ten (10) FIRST Tech Challenge students selected from the applicable FIRST Dean’s List finalists at the FIRST Championship.

The students who earn FIRST Dean’s List Award status as a semi-finalists, finalist or winner, are great examples of student leaders who have led their teams and communities to increased awareness of FIRST and its mission. These students have also achieved personal technical expertise and accomplishment. It is FIRST’s goal that these individuals will continue, post-award, as great leaders, student alumni, and advocates of FIRST. Prestigious colleges and universities have expressed great interest in meeting FIRST Dean’s List’s Award winners and FIRST hopes that each team will take advantage of the opportunity to nominate the most qualified students as FIRST Dean’s List nominees!

For more information click here.

AndyMark Video Contest

AndyMark, Inc. is partnering with FIRST Indiana Robotics (FIN) to conduct a contest among FIRST teams in Indiana to create informative, quick, five (5) minute videos. Prizes will be awarded to 6 entries. Indiana FLL, FTC and FRC teams are eligible for prizes, each being an AndyMark team sponsorship in the form of an AndyMark store credit.

The intent of this contest is to build a video library covering topics related to FIRST teams, such as how they are supported, how robots are successfully built, how students and mentors are most productive and supported, how teams impact their communities and schools, to name a few topics.

All teams providing video entry will be given AndyMark merchandise.  (3 t-shirts per team, regardless of the # of video entries)

Awards Include

Best FTC video – This video is focused on an FTC team and/or program and is the most impactful, important, informative, or entertaining.  Prize = $400 in AndyMark credit

Best technical advice – This video describes, informs or demonstrates an important technical topic within a FIRST program (FLL, FTC or FRC) to help other teams learn about this technical aspect of their program.  Prize = $600 in AndyMark credit

Best team advice – This video describes, informs or demonstrates important aspects of starting or running a FIRST team (FLL, FTC or FRC) in a clear manner with lasting impact on the viewer.
Prize = $600 in AndyMark credit

Best video – This prize is this contests’ top award.  This video is focused on any FIRST program and is the most impactful, important, informative, or entertaining.  Prize = $1000 in AndyMark credit

FIRST® Championship attendees have received emails or phone calls from housing or travel companies regarding booking hotel reservation for 2023 FIRST Championship. The e-mails are from non-approved housing agencies. They may look legitimate, but please beware. Each year, thousands of event attendees book rooms through unofficial entities only to find they do not have rooms when they arrive. Even if another housing agency is legitimate, their fine print often has terms that are not favorable.  We are proud to partner with ConferenceDirect as the only approved Official Housing Provider for the 2023 FIRST® Championship event.   FIRST® and ConferenceDirect work to ensure that we have a variety of price points, quality products, and amenities all situated in a prime location to ensure that we meet the needs and desires of 2023 FIRST Championship attendees and exhibitors. Only ConferenceDirect, the Event’s contracted Official Housing Company is authorized to use any likeness of the Event, claim partnership with and allowed to book within the Event Official Hotel Block. Reservations made through any company other than ConferenceDirect, are at your own risk. If you are contacted by anyone other than ConferenceDirect, please notify the  hotels@firstinspires.org immediately.  Do not provide any personal or financial information to another housing vendor claiming to have rooms for the Event. Only FIRST and ConferenceDirect will contact your team regarding housing for the 2023 FIRST Championship. You can monitor updates and information on our main  FIRST Championship site here;  as we plan on releasing more details early 2023.

Season Resources

Check out these resources available on the FIRST Inspires website.

• Robot Building Resources
• Programming Resources
• Team Management Resources
• FIRST Energize Theme Content – Free Downloads

Scholarship Opportunities

FIRST Scholarship Portal is now open, please share this link with any college bound seniors on your team!

Who should I talk to?