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From the archive
Memories
Stories from FIRST® in Texas — the volunteers, teams and students
who built the seasons before this one.
For sixteen years the programs in this state were run by FIRST® in Texas, an independent organization of staff, contractors and a great many volunteers. In 2026 that work came back inside FIRST itself, as FIRST Texas. The people did not change. The seasons did not change. But the website that carried the record of them is being switched off.
These 51 stories were on it. They are spotlights, mostly — a volunteer who has judged for a decade, a team that found a way to pay for its season, a student explaining what a robot taught them, an alum describing where it led. Between them they cover 2014 to 2026, which is longer than the old site itself admitted: its final move stamped most of these with the day they were migrated rather than the day they were written.
They were recovered from the Internet Archive and kept here, as close to how they were published as we could manage. Nobody wrote them for a history page. They read better for it.
Some of this is incomplete, and you can help.
Every story now carries the date it was actually published, from 2014 to 2026, and only 20 of the 57 photographs these stories referenced were ever captured by the archive. The rest exist now only in somebody’s own files. If you know when a story happened, who is in a picture, or you have a photograph of your own from that day, the button on any card will take it — no account, one box. Everything is checked by the team before it appears.
Volunteers
The people who make the days happen · 17
March 2026Volunteer Spotlight: Miranda RodriguezSometimes the most meaningful journeys begin with an unexpected detour. For Miranda Rodriguez, what started as a simple independent study at Texas Tech turned into nearly two decades of impact in the FIRST in Texas community.
February 2026Volunteer Spotlight: Lily MartinezSome volunteers are truly the backbone of a community, stepping in wherever they are needed and lifting others along the way. Lily Martinez is one of those volunteers!
February 2026Volunteer Spotlight: Leigh FrishmanIt started in a garage. Not with fanfare or a grand plan, but with a belief that students deserved a place to build, learn, and discover what they were capable of. For Leigh Frishman, that belief turned into years of opening doors for young people across Texas and showing up wherever he was needed m
February 2026Volunteer Spotlight: Marisa SolomonEach season brings new memories. Teams push through challenges, grow stronger, and discover what they are capable of, all while dedicated volunteers stand front row to witness it happen. These are the same volunteers who give their time and talents to ensure students have spaces to learn, compete, a
January 2026Volunteer Spotlight: Clark and Peggy McChesneyThis couple is known far and wide across our FIRST® in Texas community. When you hear one name, you know the next. For over a decade, they have inspired the next generation while sharing the joy of volunteering side by side. Clark and Peggy McChesney are volunteers who have supported FIRST in Texas 
January 2026Volunteer Spotlight: Dewayne HiggsFor Dewayne Higgs, volunteering with FIRST® in Texas has meant stepping into whatever role is needed to help students and events succeed. Dewayne has been part of FIRST in Texas since before the very first Amarillo FIRST Robotics Competition District Conference, and over the years, he has worn many 
January 2026Volunteer Spotlight - Chasity KeulemansFor the past five years, Chasity Keulemans has been a familiar face across FIRST in Texas events, wearing more hats than most could count. From FLL Coach and Tournament Volunteer to Referee, Judge, MC, Qualifier Host, Volunteer Coordinator, mentor to other schools and teams, and member of the FLL Ch
January 2026Volunteer Spotlight - Bill ScheideggerWhen William (Bill) Scheidegger walked into his first FIRST® event during the 2014–2015 Cascade Effect season, he was immediately immersed in a community he would go on to serve for more than a decade, providing leadership and creating unforgettable moments for teams across Texas.- No photo in the archiveDecember 2025Volunteer Spotlight - Kevyn HollowellFIRST is a place where you might find yourself meeting NBA icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at a Championship event and, in the very next moment, feeling inspired by students at every competition. For Kevyn Hollowell, these experiences capture what makes volunteering with FIRST so exciting, fun, and deeply
- No photo in the archiveDecember 2025Volunteer Spotlight - Gloria & Andrew SchuetzeFor Gloria and Andrew Schuetze, inclusive education goes far beyond a single Saturday event. It is woven into their daily lives, their teaching, and their lifelong commitment to students of all abilities.
- No photo in the archiveDecember 2025Volunteer Spotlight - Ruth Ann FrancisMeet Ruth Ann Francis — a dedicated volunteer, mentor, judge, and advocate for students within the FIRST® in Texas community for more than a decade. Since 2012, she has invested her time, expertise, and passion into supporting FIRST LEGO® League Challenge teams and helping students grow through hand
- No photo in the archiveNovember 2025Volunteer Spotlight: Luke BoswellSince 2022, Luke Boswell has been an invaluable part of the FIRST® in Texas community. What started as helping track volunteers during an FTC event quickly grew into a multi-role volunteer journey that now spans FTC and FRC events across the state.
- No photo in the archiveNovember 2025Volunteer Spotlight: Lorrie Button-EdelsonFor many volunteers, the path into FIRST® begins with curiosity. For others, it begins with enthusiasm. For Lorrie Button-Edelson, it began with what she humorously describes as being “roped in, kicking and screaming.” In 2005, Lorrie stepped into the unexpected role of faculty sponsor for FRC Team
- No photo in the archiveNovember 2025Volunteer Spotlight: Jay JordanFor more than seventeen years, Jay Jordan has been a steady, inspiring presence in the FIRST LEGO League community. Jay’s journey with FIRST in Texas began back in 2001 when FiT first took on program delivery for North Texas. Since then, he has worn many hats, often all at the same time. Today, Jay
November 2025Volunteer Spotlight: Logan FrishmanSome volunteers find FIRST® later in life. Others, like Logan Frishman, literally grow up alongside the robots. Logan has been part of FIRST in Texas since 2012, and his story is a perfect example of how one spark of involvement can turn into a lifelong passion for service, leadership, and STEM.- No photo in the archiveOctober 2025Volunteer Spotlight: Michael YoungSince the 2015–2016 Trash Trek season, Michael Young has been a familiar face at FIRST® in Texas events across the state. His journey began in North Texas when the Perot Museum served as the regional sponsor, and over the years, his dedication has taken him west and into the central region. In that
- No photo in the archiveOctober 2025Volunteer Spotlight: The Impact of Brother Marwan MaroufFor years, the FIRST® in Texas community has been strengthened by the generosity, leadership, and vision of Brother Marwan Marouf of MAS Dallas. As a League Coordinator and dedicated Venue Host, Marwan’s commitment has shaped countless experiences for students, coaches, and volunteers across North T
Teams
Seasons, builds and the odd miracle · 12
March 2026Team Spotlight: FRC Team 457 Grease MonkeysTeam 457 Grease Monkeys is the oldest team in San Antonio and the fifth oldest active team in Texas! Now celebrating their 25th season, the Grease Monkeys are marking the milestone during a year that feels especially fitting. A season of rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining who they are.
January 2026Team Spotlight: FTC Team 11719 Iron HookFTC Team 11719 Iron Hook is a West Texas team that is more than just robots and matches. It is a family that grows together through shared challenges and opportunities, continually refining their design and pushing themselves to be the best each season. Each year gives the team a chance to reconnect
December 2025Team Spotlight: FTC Team 12313 HotDawgsFIRST Tech Challenge team 12313 Hotdawgs is a team defined by spirit, creativity, and a sense of family that fuels everything they do. Ask any member what makes their team unique, and they will tell you it is the dynamic energy they share, the way ideas bounce effortlessly from one person to another- No photo in the archiveNovember 2025Team Spotlight: FRC Team 3005 RoboChargersIf you ask the RoboChargers how they describe themselves, they will tell you they are a high-energy group of students who love solving problems together. Almost like a crew of tech-savvy turtles famously known for their love of pizza, they tackle challenges as a tight-knit team and bring creativity,
- No photo in the archiveSeptember 2015Team Spotlight: FTC 7172 Grows Local Talent[first] from the start has been a strong force for creating community, and you only need to look to the Texas teams to see that.
- No photo in the archiveAugust 2015Team Spotlight: "Fear the Bow" with the Bronc BotzLooking for a way to show off your support for girls in robotics? The Bronc Botz may have your answer. They stole the show at the Alamo Region FTC Championships this past spring with their wonderful outreach and fundraising project.
- No photo in the archiveJuly 2015Team Spotlight: Rock Star Recruiting with Dia De Los Robots"It’s not just robotics; it’s for everyone." This is the mantra that team Dia De Los Robots lives by when considering how to run their robotics program. Each team member gets experience in multiple areas: building, programming, public relations, and leadership. The students were quick to say how pro
- No photo in the archiveJune 2015Team Spotlight: Creative Fundraising with the OutliersOne of the hallmarks of [first] teams is that they never let any obstacles come between the students and their dream. The Outliers, a [first] LEGO League team in Austin, TX, have been hard at work charting their own destiny with the support of Homeaway and their community.
- No photo in the archiveMay 2015Team Spotlight: LASA RoboticsLASA Robotics team 4290 is part of an incredible system of support at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy, where the robotics program has a history of over 20 years. Because of this support base and a grant from the Texas Workforce Commission, team 4290 has great opportunities to introduce robotics
- No photo in the archiveMarch 2015Team Spotlight: Austin Robotics Club Takes the ReinsThe Austin Robotics Club, [first] Tech Challenge team 8399, is determined to set their own course, and they are starting with their own robotics organization. Despite this being the first year participating in FTC for some, their team is entirely student-run, with an emphasis on business sense and i
- No photo in the archiveFebruary 2015Team Spotlight: FLL 944 Brings It Home to the CommunityCommunity involvement is the name of the game for FLL team 3, 2, 1…GO! The past 3 years, they have met the [first] LEGO League challenges head on, creating technology solutions to help people from all walks of life: from seniors losing their eyesight to drivers during dangerous storms. This year, th
- No photo in the archiveJanuary 2015Team Spotlight: Allison Dragonots’ Triumph through TeamworkAllison Dragonots FIRST Lego League (FLL) Team # 8963 is a group of talented students who are a combination of ELL (English language learners), transitioning bilingual, and monolingual students. They are all first time participants to the FLL robotics competition.
Students
In their own words · 3
February 2026Student Spotlight: Cecilia C, FTC Team 9626Cecilia C has turned her FIRST experience into an opportunity to lead, connect, and create lasting impact beyond the robot.
February 2026Student Spotlight: Holli C, FTC Team 15450For Holli C., a member of FIRST Tech Challenge Team 15450, Da Vinci Dragons Thunder, plays a critical role across nearly every aspect of her team. She serves as project manager, lead CAD engineer, lead 3D printer technician, intake facilitator, builder, and former head of outreach. Her FIRST journey
January 2026Student Spotlight: Carter B, FTC Team 23515For Carter, FIRST® Tech Challenge is more than a robotics competition. It is where ideas turn into reality, lessons become lasting habits, and teamwork leads to shared success. Carter currently serves as team captain for FTC Team 23515, Hammerheads. In addition to leading the team, he wears many hat
Alumni
Where it led · 1
Partners
The organizations behind the season · 2
February 2026Sponsor Spotlight: Applied Materials FoundationCreating meaningful pathways into STEM often begins with the people around you who believe in the value of investing in young minds. It takes partners who are willing to champion confidence, foster belonging, and create opportunities so students can discover what they are capable of achieving. Throu
February 2026More Than Volunteering: Two Sigma’s Commitment to FIRST in TexasBehind every FIRST® in Texas event, there is a network of dedicated volunteers and corporate partners who quietly make the magic happen. Volunteering with FIRST in Texas is not just something to cross off a list. For the team at Two Sigma, it is about investing in curiosity, creativity, and the futu
From the archive
16
February 2026When a Community Steps Up, Students SoarImagine working for years to build something that represents who you are. Late nights after school. Even longer weekends. Setbacks, revisions, and small wins that slowly add up. Then imagine standing on the field, hearing your team’s name called for the most prestigious award in the FIRST Robotics C- No photo in the archiveNovember 2025A Generational FIRST ® Story: Jodi and Barrett WootenImagine this: it’s 1994. You’re a high school senior, and the FIRST® Robotics Competition game is “Tower Power.” The goal? Score as many soccer balls as possible into one of two goals. You’re from Sherman, Texas, where robotics isn’t exactly mainstream, and there’s only one competition, all the way
- No photo in the archiveOctober 2025If You Could Create the Perfect FRC Game… What Would It Be?We asked two students from Team 5503, the Tiger Trons, to share their perfect FRC game design and their answers were full of creativity and excitement! As the countdown to the 2025–2026 FRC game reveal continues, we love seeing how imagination and innovation drive the FIRST® community forward.
- No photo in the archiveOctober 2025What makes FIRST® Access so unique?What makes FIRST® Access so unique? We don’t just have robotics competitions, we have fun! FIRST Access opens the door for students with disabilities and special needs to take part in STEM through hands-on robotics. This program ensures every student can experience the excitement and opportunities t
- No photo in the archiveSeptember 2025Josh Eversmann’s 15-Year Impact on Students Through FIRSTJosh Eversmann got his start as a volunteer while still a student, helping at FIRST® LEGO® League events hosted at Westwood High School. What began with scorekeeping and refereeing quickly grew into a 15-year journey spanning nearly every role FIRST in Texas has to offer.
- No photo in the archiveSeptember 2025From Girl Scout FLL Coach to Global Judge Advisor: Roberta's Volunteer JourneyWhen Girl Scouts introduced FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge to North Texas in 2017, Roberta jumped right in as a coach. She led two teams made up of her daughter’s troop members. With two groups of 4th graders participating in the Hydro Dynamics season, a brand-new volunteer journey began. What starte
May 2025Texas Teams Triumph at 2025 FIRST World Championship28 FIRST Robotics Competition teams, 15 FIRST Tech Challenge teams and 3 FIRST LEGO League teams went to Houston for the 2025 World Championship. Team 19746 BrainSTEM came home world champions.- No photo in the archiveMay 2015Lego Lions Make Texas ProudTexas teams never fail to impress. The Laurel Mountain Elementary “Lego Lions” team, supported by the Freescale Foundation and [first] in Texas, was honored as one of three global finalists for the FLL “Global Innovation Award,” presented by XPRIZE, at the annual [first] Championship World Festival,
- No photo in the archiveApril 2015Girls and STEM: What Factors Matter?Google Diversity has taken steps to see what factors make a difference in a girl's decision to engage in STEM learning and like any scientist, we know that research needs to be applied in order to be useful. Consider the facts and suggestions below to encourage more girls to join in the robotics fun
- No photo in the archiveApril 2015Top 10 Differences Between Robotics and SportsPaul Smith of Lead With A Story recently attended his first ever [first] event and had a lot of glowing remarks to share about it. We are happy to share his wonderful post and remind all of you in our community to speak up and share about the great program you have chosen to be a part of.
- No photo in the archiveMarch 2015Be the Spark - Share your StoryThe Be the Spark collection celebrates women, girls, and men who are flipping the script on gender roles in science and technology. Hear from women and girls about how their passion for science and technology first developed and meet women from history whose contributions to science and technology h
- No photo in the archiveFebruary 2015Win Big with the DARPA Robotics Video ContestAll high school students are invited to take part in the DARPA Student Video contest, to compete for expenses-paid admission to the DARPA Robotics Challenge in California to be part of the future of robotics.
- No photo in the archiveJanuary 201510,000 square feet of practice space - now available!The folks at ATX STEM Park are excited to announce their new space at ACC Highland Mall. Their 10,000 square feet of robotics practice space is sure to make this season a strong one for you and your team.
- No photo in the archiveSeptember 2014Texas Instruments wants FIRST Alumni Interns!Looking for more experience in the STEM fields? Texas Instruments wants [first] alumni to fill their upcoming summer internships. Texas Instruments offers a robust internship program with opportunities that challenge students to tackle real-world projects and get hands-on experience and insight into
- No photo in the archiveMay 2014Dell "Leaving Your Legacy" Business Plan ChallengeA challenge offered to any interested FRC team, giving them an opportunity to work with Dell leaders to develop their presentation skills, improve their business plans, and further their sustainability of their team, as well as a chance to promote their vision for STEM Education in Texas
- No photo in the archiveJanuary 2014Skillpoint Alliance Works with Dell Powering the Possible to Expand Youth LearningDell grant will provide 420 children with access to technology across Central Texas
Recovered from the Internet Archive, September 2026. Dates come from the original site’s own files and from the photographs’ capture dates where those survived; where neither did, the story says so rather than guessing.