Our impact
Reaching beyond
The mission of FIRST is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders through mentor-based programs that build real skills and well-rounded lives. Over the past year, students on Team 195 volunteered more than 3000 hours in our community.
STEAM outreach
Technology education for everyone
The STEAM side of our outreach exists to put technology education within reach of everyone in our community and beyond.
- ElderKnights: a seven-year LEGO building and technology class that has now reached over 150 seniors.
- Southington Apple Harvest Festival and Parade.
- STEM For All, our own fair, with over 300 attendees a year.
- Girls Who Code.
- Girl Scout STEAM Camp.
FIRST development
Giving back to the program we came from
Teams we run
- 21 FIRST LEGO League teams, up 200 percent from 2023 and all still running.
- 3 FTC teams, mentored by our own upperclassmen.
- WaterWorks STEAM classes.
Events we put on
- Our own FTC event, plus an FLL qualifier and an FTC scrimmage that drew over 250 people.
- Volunteering at FRC competitions.
- A robotics legislation proposal to the Connecticut government.
A practice field open to every team
We build a practice field every season and open it to any team that asks. Fifty-three percent of Connecticut's FRC teams have used it.
Southington and beyond
Turning up for the town
The third part of our outreach has nothing to do with robots. It is about relieving pressure on people in our community and elsewhere.
- The annual Veterans Dinner, and volunteering with the American Legion.
- Veterans holiday cards: over 250 handwritten and delivered.
- The Rock the Vote initiative.
- Operation E.L.F. toy drive for the Connecticut National Guard.
- Southington Community Services winter clothing drive and food drive.
- Support for Guiding Light Orphans in Uganda.
