FIRST stands for: For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology. By 1992, Dean Kamen was becoming increasingly concerned about our ability to effectively compete in business given our declining ability to educate students in science and technology. Kamen and his friend, Dr. Woodie Flowers, had a wild idea: create a competition–now a “coopertition”–where teams of high school students, working closely with mentors, design and build a robot, in a six week period, then compete both regionally and nationally.
Linda Stone 
This is a great program — my daughter’s high school has our whole family involved. It is an eye-opening experience for a couple of parents with far too many humanities degrees. Our lives revolve around build season right now, but if they had this program when I was growing up I can imagine my career track might have been much different!
Wiggins! Love that you’re involved with FIRST. It’s a life changing, all-absorbing program. Wish I’d had it growing up, too. Wonderful that your daughter has family support!!