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 from 2025.
Volunteers
The people who make the days happen · 9- 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 · 2
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,
From the archive
6- 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.
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.