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.
17 of 51 in volunteers.
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
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.