What is FIRST?
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an organization designed to get students interested in math and science programs at the high school level, in hopes of a continuing education in those fields. It brings high school teams together with engineering mentors to compete in a fun, sport-like challenge. However, the task of FIRST is not to win the competition. The real mission of FIRST is to connect high school students with real-world engineers so that together they can replicate a smaller scale of the real engineering world. Students are given a kit of parts and a six-week time limit in which to build robots to participate. FIRST brings the students and mentors together to compete in this challenge to emulate the real world and show kids how careers in math and science can be just as well-celebrated as more mainstream jobs.
Our Mission
At Division By Zero our desire is to transform the future for everyone local and abroad, and to take the dreams of innovative young minds and transform them into reality.
As time progresses we pass on the torch of hard work and dedication so that our knowledge and experiences are handed down by our mentors to our youth, and today we mold and shape the engineers of tomorrow.
Our highest endeavour is to give our students an opportunity to experience the various fields of technology, while challenging our mentors, in a way that inspires both alike. Not only do our mentors and students learn about science technology, but they also develop life skills, such as gracious professionalism, hard work and the desire to succeed in the face of adversity. "…Most of the time you will fail, but you will also occasionally succeed. Those occasional successes make all the hard work and sacrifice worthwhile. …" -Dean Kamen
Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and have a variety of interests! We surveyed all of our students to see howlong they have participated in F.I.R.S.T., and to see what they have taken away from the experience. <In Progress>
Our Mentors are comprised of Clarkson University Students ranging from Freshman to Seniors in majoring in Engineering, Business and Science. Some of are mentors have been active in F.I.R.S.T. since Highschool while others are experiencing the excitiement and satisfaction of impacting their community for the first time. Click on the Mentors link to see their stories.
Our Advisors are comprised of Salmon River Central and Massena Central, HighSchool and Elementary Teachers as well as Clarkson Universtiy Faculty. From founding the team back in 1999 to helping the team secure millions in grant money and expand F.I.R.S.T. accross Northern New York our Advisors are a key to the Team's impact in our community! Click on the Advisors link to see their stories.
Many of team 229's Alumni are pursuing careers in the fields of engineering and science while other Alumni have successfully transitioned into society as teachers, medical professionals and entrepreneurs. In fact over 80% of our alumni have moved onto college and professional careers! Click on the the link above to see their stories.
Each year the game changes and Team 229 steps forward to meet the challenge. Starting with the year 2000 each robot we design and build is unique to meet the requirements of the game. Although not every robot has won a competition we are proud of what we build and continue to improve our designs every year. Click on the link above to see our Robots!
