FIRST Chesapeake

“Growing up, I often stuck to what felt safe because I didn’t want to fail. While failure can be discouraging, it’s also one of the greatest teachers. Perseverance builds confidence. Failing earlier would have helped me discover what works for me and what doesn’t, while also fostering curiosity, innovation, and persistence.” Meet Nicholas! Nicholas is a FIRST alum who works for FIRST Strategic Partner TE Connectivity as a Research Development/Product Development Electrical Engineer and designs force and torque sensors that are integrated into the robotic arms of industrial robots. Read more about Nicholas, pictured here with the person of STEAM who inspires him the most: FIRST supporter Lonnie G. Johnson! https://hubs.ly/Q038j6dc0 #PeopleofSTEAM #GetAnywhere #FIRSTAlumni

I've finally recovered enough from the FIRST Chesapeake Pasadena Event to post photos and recap the experience. Thanks to all my wonderful volunteers (100+ people over three days!!) for all their help! My first time as a volunteer coordinator has taken away any email anxiety I ever had and has improved my people management skills. I'm always happy to develop new skills in unexpected places! Small shoutout to the FRC Glen Allen event for giving me a taste of what Pasadena would be like and teaching the importance of including the right people on emails. Here's to the rest of the season!

This past weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to serve as a judge at the FIRST Robotics Competition at Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda, and I can confidently say—it was an experience I won’t forget! Seeing high school students showcase their engineering creativity, problem-solving skills, and teamwork was truly inspiring. These young innovators demonstrated not only technical excellence but also the kind of collaboration and perseverance that drive real-world impact. From intricate robot designs to strategic game play, every conversation I had with the teams left me in awe. As someone passionate about robotics, technology, and mentorship, it was rewarding to contribute to an event that nurtures the next generation of engineers and problem-solvers. It reminded me of why I love being part of the tech and robotics community—innovation thrives where curiosity and collaboration meet! A huge shoutout to FIRST Chesapeake for organizing such an incredible competition, and to all the students, mentors, and volunteers who made this event possible. I would also like to thank Maryland Robotics Center for sharing this opportunity with me. If you ever get the chance to volunteer at a FIRST event, I highly recommend it! ???? Suhas Nagaraj Keyur Borad Ishan Tamrakar Anirudh Swarankar Swaraj Mundruppady Rao #FIRSTRobotics #STEM #Volunteering #Robotics #Innovation #Mentorship #Maryland

Bumped into former Matrix Group International intern Hazel Belmont today at a FIRST Chesapeake FRC competition. Hazel is on break from VCU and serving as a mentor to Alexandria City High School's Titan Robotics team 5587. This is my son's first year as part of FIRST, thanks to community-based team RTR 2421, and it is amazing how much the students learn in such a short amount of time! Graduates like Hazel, who volunteer their time, make this program a success!

Robots, teamwork, and a whole lot of energy—what a weekend ?? I had the chance to volunteer as an Official Scorer at the FIRST Robotics Competition at Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda, MD. And let me tell you, the level of creativity, strategy, and sheer hustle these high school teams brought to the field blew me away. It wasn’t just about the robots competing—it was about how the students responded when things didn’t go as planned. Watching them troubleshoot mechanical hiccups, fine-tune their code between matches, and cheer each other on was a reminder that engineering is as much about mindset and teamwork as it is about tech. Let’s just say, the robots were moving faster than my hands at times. ?? What stood out most wasn’t the competition itself, but how naturally these students took ownership—working together, staying calm when things went sideways, and lifting each other up. You could see real leadership and resilience happening in real-time, without anyone forcing it. That’s the kind of thing you can’t teach in a classroom. Big thanks to FIRST Chesapeake and everyone who made the event possible—it was a blast to be part of. I’m already looking forward to volunteering at more events and continuing to support the next generation of engineers and problem-solvers. #FIRSTRobotics #STEM #Volunteering #FutureEngineers #RoboticsCommunity #Innovation #Teamwork #GivingBack

Searching for a free curriculum that will provide students with the opportunity to practice 21st century skills like technical writing, presentation skills, communication, project management, collaboration, and teamwork? Look no further than our Robotics Engineering Explorations curriculum! Created by the FIRST Education Team and designed for grades 7-12, this curriculum allows students to skill-build while diving into the world of robotics and FIRST. Learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q036rTK50