M E I M N P D O S W E R I N G ANNUAL REPORT 20 07 FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Dean Kamen, FIRST Founder, John Abele, FIRST Chairman, President, DEKA Research & Development Corporation Founder Chairman, Retired, Boston Scientific Corporation Founder & Chairman’s Letter FIRST came into existence more than eighteen years ago, and our most We see FIRST approaching the time in our development when the mature initiative, the FIRST Robotics Competition, is approaching its potential for growth is at its highest. This year, governors and members seventeenth season. As we have progressed through our teenage years, of Congress met FIRST teams in offices, workshops, and competitions. we have experienced the wonders of growth and development and, at President George W. Bush brought the FIRST season to a remarkable times, some of the associated challenges. Today, much like a student conclusion by recognizing the achievements and contributions of FIRST’s preparing for the last year of secondary school, FIRST is poised to take award-winning teams at The White House. another substantial step forward. P02: FIRST Robotics Competition All of us in the FIRST Community are helping to build the momentum As we examine the FIRST Community, the United States, and the world, P04: FIRST Tech Challenge that can meet the challenges of the “gathering storm.” We have the we recognize the attributes of an environment nearing the “tipping opportunity and responsibility as innovators and early adopters to attract P06: FIRST LEGO ® League point.” There is a growing social wave of concern and commitment for new participants to the FIRST Community, share our knowledge, our future, and many of those who share that concern also embrace the experience, and wisdom, and actively encourage students to engage fully. P08: Junior FIRST LEGO League values of FIRST . “Rising Above the Gathering Storm,” the report of The Every year, we hear thousands of inspiring stories from individuals, teams, P09: Sponsors National Academies, articulated the need to increase the talent pool and and communities – stories of success made possible by the dedicated sustain an environment of innovation. The broad-based response from P24: Financials members of the FIRST Community. Thank you to all of the mentors, government, business, and educational leaders indicates that concern volunteers, sponsors, parents, and team members for your continued P25: Leadership for our future has reached a critical mass. effort and contributions as we enter our next phase of growth. Dean Kamen, FIRST Founder John Abele, FIRST Chairman 88341_First Text.qxp:first inside spreads 12/13/07 11:55 AM Page 1 FIRST National Advisor Governor of Hawaii IBM Fellow YouTube Co-Founder & CEO Dr. Woodie Flowers Linda Lingle Don Eigler Chad Hurley P r e s i d e n t ’s L e t t e r U.S. President I recently participated in a meeting of technology industry That’s precisely where FIRST and the FIRST Community play George W. Bush Receiving ring from Moe-zilla executives with Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts. He a major role. By inspiring students to pursue education and stated that there are 90,000 open jobs in his state and careers in science, engineering, and technology, we are 120,000 people are looking for work. Unfortunately, the twain working together with industry, government, educators, shall not meet because, in our 21st century economy, many parents, and many others to develop the skills that are open positions require technology skills and knowledge that job invaluable today and for the future. The companies and seekers do not possess. Company executives lament that organizations that sponsor FIRST are investing in their future their businesses could grow faster, if only they could find success by supporting teams and events, by supporting the qualified people. participation of expert, passionate mentors, and by hiring team members, alumni, and FIRST Community members into The concern for this growing gap in the workforce echoes internships and full-time jobs. throughout my meetings with executives worldwide. Technology companies have thousands of unfilled jobs. I’d like to congratulate team members on another exceptional Industries from aerospace to utilities to manufacturing year and reiterate our gratitude to our generous sponsors, FIRST President anticipate a drastic workforce gap as 50% of their employees contributors, and the 65,000 volunteers who really “make Paul R. Gudonis become eligible to retire in the next five to ten years. FIRST happen.” Your contributions of time, talent, parts, equipment, services, and financial support enable us to Who will fill these jobs in our economy, where products empower minds among a growing number of young people and services increasingly require a technically literate in FIRST programs. I invite you to read about the energy and workforce? Who will be the innovators that improve the success of some of these students, volunteers, and quality of life and standard of living of the coming decades? organizations on the following pages. Who will lead the engineering, manufacturing, programming, and research teams? Paul R. Gudonis, FIRST President FIRS T A n n u a l R e p o r t : 0 1 88341_First Text.qxp:first inside spreads 12/18/07 4:26 PM Page 2 F I R ST “…THIS HAS TOTALLY GIVEN ME THE KEY TO THE DOOR I NEED TO OPEN FOR THE FUTURE.” ROBOTIC S C O M P E T I T I O N F R C T E A M M E M B E R , B R O O K LY N , N Y The 2007 FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) game, “Rack ‘N’ Roll,” tested the students’ ability to design and build robots to hang inflated rings on pegs configured in rows and columns on a 10-foot high center rack structure. Robots also “lifted” other robots 4 inches or higher off the floor for extra points. 88341_First Text.qxp:first inside spreads 12/13/07 11:55 AM Page 3 MORE THAN A GAME: In 2007, a record 32,675 high-school students and their mentors worked together to successfully tackle a tough engineering challenge in the FIRST Robotics Competition. We welcomed 1,307 teams from Brazil, Canada, Israel, Mexico, the Netherlands, the U.K., and – for the first time ever – every state in the U.S. The program grew 15% from the previous year and included 258 rookie teams. New Regional competitions took FRC PR OFI LE : place in Kansas City, New Orleans, San Diego, and Brazil, for a total of 37 events this season. NANCY M C INTYR E Mentor. Regional Committee Chair. Senior Mentor. Nancy also shares her passion with her fellow educators, 1300 Consummate FIRST spokesperson. Nancy McIntyre’s passion training teachers in Hawaii who have stepped up to start S M A E 1200 T and commitment to nurturing students’ excitement about rookie FRC teams for the 2008 season and conducting a 7 0 3 3 1 3 1100 1 science and technology defies description with a single title. half-day workshop for nearly 100 National Science 1 1000 1 9 Teacher’s Association members on how to bring FIRST 9 7 900 2 Even the most energetic of people would find Nancy’s To 9 robotics into the classroom. 800 Do list daunting, from mentoring Los Angeles Regional 7 8 7 700 Engineering Inspiration award-winning FRC Team 1138, Nancy is an extraordinary, action-oriented volunteer who 2 4 600 6 “Eagle Engineering,” and growing her school’s robotics lives her daily life as a truly Gracious Professional. 5 500 1 5 program to include summer enrichment classes, to 400 2 7 chairing the Los Angeles Regional Committee and seeding 3 300 1 7 2 200 potential growth for the FRC program with two FIRST 9 9 1 1 5 1 100 4 9 LEGO League and three FIRST Tech Challenge teams. 9 5 All on top of teaching 9th grade biology! 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 F IR ST A n n u a l R e p o r t : 0 3 88341_First Text.qxp:first inside spreads 12/13/07 11:55 AM Page 4 “WHEN YOU’RE LEARNING IN CLASS, YOU’RE FIRST GETTING THE BASICS, AN OUTLINE. BUT IT’S TEC H CHAL LE NGE NOTHING COMPARED TO A HANDS-ON, PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF WHAT YOU’RE DOING. IT’S WORTH SO MUCH MORE.” FTC TEA M M EM B ER , M E N D H A M , N J In 2006, students’ robots collected softballs and scored points by placing them in high or low corner goals. Extra points were scored by possessing an Atlas ball, which doubled the point value in the goals. Additionally, robots attempted to park on a rotating platform or hang from a bar. 88341_First Text.qxp:first inside spreads 12/13/07 11:55 AM Page 5 FT C P RO FIL E : NOR TH CAR O LI NA F T C AFF ILI ATE P AR TNE R , E R IC CH EEK , AND KIM RIDDICK With a voice as deep as his generosity and heart, Dr. Eric Cheek is a force to be reckoned with. As Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and the Director of Summer Sessions and Outreach for North Carolina Agricultural and 600 Technical State University, Eric somehow finds time to serve as the FIRST Tech 550 S M A 500 Challenge (FTC) Affiliate Partner for his area. Eric works closely with his E T 4 MORE THAN A GAME: 5 450 colleague, Kim Riddick, to spread the FIRST message to underserved and 5 After two successful pilot seasons, the renamed minority populations throughout the state by conducting workshops and FTC 400 FIRST Tech Challenge intermediate robotics roadshows, visiting schools and presenting in assemblies, participating in 350 competition joins our continuum of official parent meetings, and preaching the importance of technology education.