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Orlando's FIRST Brings Robotics Education and Future Workforce Development
Walking into UCF's Addition Financial Arena this past weekend, you could feel the energy and inspiration coming from the Orlando Regional FIRST Robotics Competition. The competition originated in 1999 at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center, but in 2003 the growth of the event led them to move the competition to UCF’s arena.
Cora, a student ambassador with the program, showed us around and explained what it was all about. A 10th grade student who’s been a part of FIRST Robotics since 9th grade, Cora shared that one of the misconceptions of being a part of something like this is that it’s not just about building or driving robots. If that doesn’t interest you, which it didn’t for her, there are other roles on the team that serve an important purpose and can help prepare you for the future.
Cora has aspirations to pursue a career in Law. Her place on the team is focused on writing essays, presentations and highlighting the impact her team and the program has on students and the community.
FIRST Robotics Student Ambassador, Cora, plans to pursue a degree in Law
Wendy Austin, the Regional Director for FIRST Robotics said, “Our students are going to change the world.”
Wendy painted a vivid picture of a program that’s much more than robots—it's about preparing kids for a bright future and offering businesses a glimpse into the potential of tomorrow's workforce.
Wendy’s children, who are now in their 30’s, grew up being a part of the program. One of the memories that stood out to her was her son who entered the program thinking computer engineering was his passion only to find out 3 days later he was drawn to the mechanical side. She also talked about her daughter who went through the program and because of her involvement was quickly hired by Lockheed Martin.
As Wendy and I spoke, a number of people came by to greet her. Many of them were Alumni who now have their own kids enrolled in the program. One of them was already retired at 31 years of age and traveling the world. Another was a gentleman who started a number of successful companies. Everyone we met all shared that common theme: A bright future.
For local businesses, Wendy’s message was clear: FIRST Robotics is a goldmine of future talent. "These kids are not just learning how to build robots; they're learning how to solve problems, work in teams, and manage projects," she stated. This makes FIRST alumni exceptionally well-prepared for the workforce, often entering their careers with a level of experience and maturity beyond their years. Wendy emphasized the program's role in workforce development, highlighting how companies across IT, healthcare, media and more, could benefit from engaging with FIRST Robotics, whether through sponsorships, mentorships or internships.
Thanks to FIRST Robotics, Orlando is not just preparing its youth for the future; it's actively shaping a future where both its children and businesses can thrive.
