For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology
FIRST Scholarship
Program
2010 FIRST Scholarship
Program Overview
(as of 2-1-10)
Offerings for students on FRC Teams
 Over $12.2 Million in college scholarships
 Over 746 available scholarship opportunities
 Over 136 scholarship providers
Offerings for students on FTC Teams*
 Over $7.8 Million in college scholarships
 Over 428 available scholarship opportunities
 96 scholarship providers
* The FTC Scholarships are a subset of the FRC Scholarships
2
Who Offers these
Scholarships to FIRST
Students?
FIRST Scholarships are funded and offered by:




Colleges
Universities
Corporations
Professional Associations
FIRST Scholarships are not funded or administered by FIRST
3
Why are Scholarships
Offered to FIRST Students?
Because many colleges and universities recognize that:
 FIRST students are passionate about science and technology.
 FIRST helps students develop critical life skills including project
management, teamwork, problem solving, and appreciation of diversity.
 FIRST builds self-esteem and self-confidence.
 In short, students with FIRST experience are better equipped to succeed in
college (as reported in our evaluation studies).
4
Why are Scholarships
Offered to FIRST Students?
Because many corporations and associations recognize that:
 FIRST teaches skills that are valued in employees.
 FIRST students will contribute to the technical workforce of tomorrow.
 FIRST students are future members of professional associations.
5
Colleges and Universities
Value FIRST Students
“Over the years, we have been thrilled with the quality and success of our
FIRST-alumni students. Our FIRST scholarship recipients in particular have
proven to be excellent investments into our student body. From our point of
view, the scholarship program is win-win – good for the students, great for
WPI !”
--- Ken Stafford, Director of Robotics Resource Center,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
WPI
FIRST Scholarship
Winners
6
What Kinds of Scholarships
are Available?
 Some are for special majors such as engineering, math, science, computer
science or technology (~ 60%). Others are for any course of study (~40%).
 Values of scholarships vary from $500 to full tuition for all four years
(valued at $149,000).
 Most are merit based. There are scholarships for a broad range of
scholastic abilities.
 Most are renewable annually if the student maintains an acceptable
academic average.
 Most are from colleges or universities for enrollment at their campus, but a
few are provided by corporations and professional associations and can be
used at any school.
7
Who Can Apply?
 High school students participating on FRC and FTC teams can apply for
FIRST Scholarships.
 Most scholarships are for seniors, but there are a few scholarships
available to juniors and a few available to college students.
8
When Do I Apply?
 Application deadlines range from early December to the end of July.
 Most applications are due during January through April.
 Pay attention to application deadline dates!
9
How Do I Find Scholarships
Appropriate for Me?
1. Visit the FIRST Scholarship Webpage
www.usfirst.org/scholarships
10
How Do I Find Scholarships
Appropriate for Me?
2. Display the “FIRST Scholarship Opportunities”.
Click on “2010
FIRST Scholarship
Opportunities” to
display a list of all
FIRST scholarships.
11
How Do I Find Scholarships
Appropriate for Me?
3. View the list of individual FIRST Scholarships
Use the scroll bar
to view the
complete list.
12
How Do I Find Scholarships
Appropriate for Me?
4. Refine your search
Use the drop
down menus to
select the state
where you want to
attend college,
your FIRST
program (FRC or
FTC), and/or your
current grade in
school. Then click
Go.
13
How Do I Find Scholarships
Appropriate for Me?
5. View the details
Follow the “More
details…” and “View
Application…” links
to display detailed
information about
an individual
scholarship,
including eligibility
criteria and how to
apply.
14
How Do I Apply?
 Each scholarship has its own unique application submission process.
 Scholarship descriptions include instructions on how to apply.
 Many scholarship descriptions include application forms.
 You may need to write an essay.
 You may need a letter of recommendation from a FIRST mentor.
 You will send your application directly to the school or organization
(not to FIRST).
 Contact the school (scholarship provider) if you have questions.
15
What Chance do I have of
Winning a Scholarship?
 Many FIRST Scholarships have only a handful of applicants, so the chance
of winning a scholarship is very high. Go for it!
 Last year, one out of every four students who applied for a FIRST
scholarship was offered a scholarship. These are incredible odds!
 What have you got to lose?
16
What do FIRST Scholarship
Winners have to say?
“When I joined FIRST, I didn't actually expect it to be anything more
than a hobby. What I didn't realize was the great number of
advantages that came with my participation. Because of FIRST I
became eligible for multiple engineering and technology
scholarships, and this really helped me out when figuring out the
whole college issue. When I received Bradley's FIRST scholarship,
it gave me that extra boost I needed to come to the college of my
choice!”
-- Alison Vigland, Team 2408, Bradley University, Class of 2013,
Mechanical Engineering, winner of a Bradley University FIRST scholarship
17
What do FIRST Scholarship
Winners have to say?
“I was astonished when I found out that I had been selected to
receive this scholarship, because I never win anything. I had no
idea how I was going to afford to better my education and this
scholarship makes everything easier. Winning this scholarship has
increased my chances to fulfill my goals. Thank you FIRST!”
-- Esa M, Team 1748, Capitol College, Class of 2013, Electrical Engineering,
winner of a Capitol College FIRST Scholarship
18
What do FIRST Scholarship
Winners have to say?
“The FIRST Innovation scholarship has changed my life forever. I
never thought the Program that got me interested in Science and
Engineering would one day give me the chance of a lifetime to
study at an amazing Engineering school worry free.”
-- Benjamin Roy ,Team 133, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Class of 2010,
Electrical and Computer Engineering, winner of a WPI Design Innovation
FIRST Scholarship
19
2010 FIRST Scholarship
Providers (as of 2-1-10)
Adelphi University
Arizona State University
ASME - ASME Auxiliary
BAE Systems
Boston University
Bradley University
Bucknell University
California State University, Los
Angeles/Boeing
California State University, Northridge
CalPoly San Luis Obispo/BAE Systems
Capitol College
Carnegie Mellon University/Boeing
Case Western Reserve University
City College of New York, CUNY
Clarkson University
Clemson University
College for Creative Studies
College of Southern Maryland
Colorado State University
Colorado Technical University – Denver
Daniel Webster College
DePaul University
20
DeVry University
DigiPen Institute of Technology
Drexel University
Eastern Michigan University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Farmingdale State College
Ferris State University
Florida A&M University/Boeing
Florida Institute of Technology
Fluid Power Educational Foundation
Gates Corporation
Georgia Institute of Technology
Grand Valley State University
Hampshire College
Harvey Mudd College
Hofstra University
Illinois Institute of Technology
International Fluid Power Society
ITT Technical Institute
Johnson & Wales University
Kansas State University
Kettering University
Lake Superior State University
Lawrence Technological University
Lindenwood University
Marquette University
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
Metropolitan Community College
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Missouri University of Science and
Technology
Molloy College
Montclair State University
New Hampshire Technical Institute
New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Mexico State University/Boeing
New School
(continued)
2010 FIRST Scholarship
Providers (continued)
Norfolk State University/BAE
Systems
Northeastern University
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
University of Arizona/BAE Systems
University of Arkansas-Little Rock
Northwestern University
Nuts, Bolts& Thingamajigs, The
Foundation of FMA, Intl.
Ohio State University
Olin College of Engineering
Oregon Institute of Technology
Oregon State University
Saint Vincent College
Schoolcraft College
Seattle Pacific University
SME Education Foundation
Society of Petroleum Engineers Delta Section
Society of Women Engineers Houston Area
University of Delaware
University of Hartford
University of Hawaii at Manoa/BAE
Systems
Pace University
Penn State/BAE Systems
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Phil Clancy Memorial Scholarship
Plymouth State University
Polytechnic University
Purdue University/BAE Systems
Southern California Regional
Robotics Forum (SCRRF)
Spring Arbor University
Stevens Institute of Technology
SUNY Potsdam
Sweet Briar College
Team 1649 - EMS
QuestBridge
Raytheon Company
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute/BAE
Systems
Team San Diego
Temple University
Teradata Corporation
Tulane University
21
University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Kansas
University of Maryland/BAE Systems
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Minnesota/PTC
University of Missouri
University of Missouri - Kansas City
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Nevada Las Vegas
University of New Hampshire/BAE
Systems
(continued)
2010 FIRST Scholarship
Providers (continued)
University of Rochester
Westwood College
University of South Carolina
William Paterson University
University of South Florida
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
University of Southern California
University of Texas Arlington
University of Texas - Austin
University of Toronto
University of Washington/Boeing
University of Waterloo
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Vermont Technical College
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech/BAE Systems
Washington State University
Washington University in St.
Louis/Boeing
Washtenaw Community College
Wayne State University
22
Thank You to our generous
FIRST Scholarship Providers