FIRST Texas
FIRST® Texas
Graduating seniors in caps and gowns walking their robot onto the floor at the 2026 District Championship
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Who we are

About FIRST® Texas

The FIRST department that delivers all three programs across Texas.

How FIRST works in Texas

Across a state as large and diverse as Texas, local event hosts, coaches, mentors and volunteers work together to create welcoming, high-quality experiences for students. Each program is organized into regions that connect teams with nearby events and a path through the season.

Two students reaching over a FIRST LEGO League table to set up their LEGO robot on the printed mission mat
Grades K–8

FIRST LEGO® League

Six Texas regions — Panhandle, West, North, Central, East and South. Each region runs its own qualifiers and festivals and connects teams with local support.

A FIRST Tech Challenge student setting her team's robot on the field among purple and green game pieces at the Texas Cup
Grades 7–12

FIRST Tech Challenge

Five regions — West & Panhandle, North, Central, East and South. Leagues and qualifying tournaments lead to regional championships and advancement.

A FIRST Robotics Competition robot the size of a washing machine crossing the arena floor among yellow game pieces
Grades 9–12

FIRST Robotics Competition

Texas and New Mexico compete together as one district. Teams play district events through the season; top performers advance to the District Championship and beyond.

Purpose

To prepare the young people of today for the world of tomorrow.

Vision

A world where science and technology are celebrated, and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders.

Mission

Life-changing robotics programs that give young people the skills, confidence and resilience to build a better world.

Our Theory of Change

  • Hands-on learning

    Students design, build, code and test real robots. The learning sticks because they did it themselves.

  • Caring mentors & supporters

    Coaches and mentors guide without taking over, asking the right questions so students find the answers.

  • Teamwork with real-world relevance

    Teams combine coding, engineering and design skills to tackle real problems, and learn that setbacks are part of the process.

  • Celebratory events

    Competitions feel like a sport, with cheering crowds, alliances and awards for both technical excellence and community impact.

  • Career exposure

    Mentors and partners from Texas companies help students see themselves in technical careers.

  • FIRST Core Values

    Discovery, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork and Fun guide every team, along with Gracious Professionalism® and Coopertition®.

Gracious Professionalism®

Fierce competition and mutual gain coexist. Participants compete intensely while treating each other with respect and empathy — high-quality work, the value of others, and respect for the community. The term was coined by Dr. Woodie Flowers.

Coopertition®

Teams help and cooperate with each other even as they compete — learning from teammates, teaching others, and enabling everyone around them whenever possible.

2025–26 Impact Report

Preparing the next generation of Texas STEM leaders

One season of FIRST programs in Texas, by the numbers — and what coaches and graduating students say it did.

159
School districts
405
Partner organizations
4,330
Coaches
23,448
Students
A FIRST Robotics Competition driver with a Texas flag patch on her sleeve at the controls during the District Championship

Coaches reported student gains in

  • Teamwork & communication
  • Problem solving
  • Technical knowledge
  • Leadership & self-confidence
  • Resilience & perseverance

Building confidence and persistence in STEM pathways

According to a survey of graduating high school participants:

  • 96%
    plan to pursue higher education
  • 94%
    plan to pursue a STEM career
  • 94%
    credit FIRST with growing their confidence in STEM

Reach

105/254
Texas counties with an active team

From graduating students

  • “FIRST is more than just building a robot, it is about an opportunity to learn about STEM, meet like-minded people, make connections, and to build life-lasting experiences.”
  • “FIRST has strengthened my passion for robotics and STEM. Because of FIRST, I am now going to WPI to study Robotics Engineering!”
  • “I want to be able to recreate the experience I got for the next generation, as my experience with FIRST genuinely changed my life's trajectory.”

Figures from the 2025–26 FIRST in Texas Impact Report; programs are now delivered directly by FIRST as FIRST Texas.

Who makes it happen

The people behind the programs

Statewide Leadership

Regional Program Administrators

RPAs run their region's season: they place teams at events, keep coaches informed and work with local hosts. Contact yours first — they know your events.

FIRST LEGO® League

FIRST Tech Challenge

Community engagement

Advisory Council

The FIRST Texas Advisory Council brings together leaders from industry, education and the FIRST community to guide program strategy, open doors for partnerships and champion STEM opportunity for every Texas student.

The roster for the 2026–27 season is being confirmed.

About the council

FIRST is only possible because of thousands of volunteers who are behind every event and team. Join them →

Join our team

There are many ways to help make FIRST programs possible across Texas — from volunteering for a single day to providing a venue or directing an event. No FIRST experience required.

Volunteer at an event

Judging, refereeing, robot inspection, team check-in, queuing, field reset. No STEM background needed; training is provided.

How to volunteer

Host or direct an event

Local events happen through partnerships with schools, colleges and community organizations. We need venue hosts and event directors — see partner resources for stipends and venue requirements.

Apply to host or direct

Start or coach a team

Register with FIRST HQ, then sign in here with the same email to pick a Texas event in your region.

Coach sign in

Paid program-team positions for 2026–27 have all been filled.

Get in touch

Contact the Texas team

Questions about teams, events, registration, volunteering, partnerships, regional support or anything else FIRST Texas: texasinfo@firstinspires.org. It's a shared inbox that we route to the right place.

For FIRST HQ help use customerservice@firstinspires.org.

Subscribe to the newsletter

We respect your privacy. Newsletters are how season updates, deadlines and event news go out.

Announced July 31, 2026

Update on programming in Texas

After more than 15 years leading program delivery and growing access to FIRST programs in Texas, the FIRST in Texas organization is ending operations following a period of unsustainable challenges in the region. To ensure continuity and long-term stability for teams, volunteers, sponsors and partners, FIRST headquarters now manages the delivery of all FIRST programs in the FIRST in Texas region. This site replaces the former FIRST in Texas website.

The FIRST in Texas Board of Directors and program leadership are working alongside FIRST leadership on a smooth transition as the 2026–27 season launches. We are deeply grateful to the FIRST in Texas staff, volunteers and supporters who ensure access to FIRST for over 20,000 Texas students each year.

What it means for you

  • FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST LEGO® League teams register for the 2026–27 CANOPY™ season on the FIRST Dashboard at firstinspires.org, as before.
  • Local program leadership continues to deliver programs and events alongside volunteers, sponsors, vendors and the Advisory Council. Natasha Wilkerson, Lucia Sevcik, Juan Salinas, Emily DeMille and Erika Diggs have joined FIRST headquarters to continue this work.
  • FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST LEGO® League teams previously supported by FIRST in Texas hear from FIRST (firstinspires.org addresses) about event registration — and on this site.
  • Nothing changes for the other Texas delivery organizations: San Jacinto College (FIRST Tech Challenge Houston/East) and the University of Texas at El Paso (FIRST LEGO® League West).

FAQ

What does the end of the FIRST in Texas organization mean for the community?

FIRST now directly manages FIRST LEGO® League, FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition delivery in the region. The local leadership team, including Program Delivery Partners, works under FIRST, and support for teams and volunteers continues much as in 2025–26 through a unified structure. FIRST in Texas served as the delivery partner from 2010 to 2026, supporting 20,000 students a year.

Does this affect San Jacinto College or UTEP?

No. Their operations (FIRST Tech Challenge Houston region and FIRST LEGO® League West region) are unaffected.

How can I keep supporting the region?

Email texasinfo@firstinspires.org and the Texas team will follow up; this site is updated as information is available.

How does this affect registration, events and support this season?

The season runs much like 2025–26: all teams register through the FIRST Dashboard; team grants and support continue; Advisory Councils continue and new regional planning committees help shape next season. Season and event fees are all paid to FIRST — one vendor, no separate local payments. The former FIRST in Texas Coach Portal has retired; event selection happens on this site.

Will participation costs increase?

Some fees change because delivery costs changed — decisions already planned by FIRST in Texas leadership and unrelated to the transition. Details are on the FIRST LEGO® League and FIRST Tech Challenge pricing sections.

Will team grants be available?

Yes — see Team grants. One application covers every statewide source.

Volunteers: what changes for me?

Your day-to-day experience doesn't change. You still sign up through the FIRST Dashboard and work with regional program leadership. Advisory Councils continue for every program, new regional planning committees give volunteers a stronger voice, and volunteer surveys will continue.

I had a FIRST in Texas email or files. What happens to them?

The FIRST in Texas Microsoft and Google systems are no longer active and account access may be disabled. If you have files in Google or SharePoint you need, contact texasinfo@firstinspires.org.

Working with FIRST

Vendors & partners

Vendor onboarding, invoicing and partner resources (hosting an event, stipends, venue requirements, photography) have moved to News & Resources.

Partner resourcesVendor info
Looking for the original announcement? It remains on firsttx.org until the redirect is in place.