Share Your Story With Us!

Submit a Team Testimonial

We’re excited to hear from Vermont teams across the entire spectrum of FIRST programs! Share your stories about the challenges you’ve faced and conquered. We’re particularly interested in gathering testimonials from teams about their Rookie year experiences. Your insights will be showcased on our “Resources for Teams” webpage, under the relevant program category (FLL, FTC, FRC). Whether you choose to express your journey through an essay or a video, we welcome your creativity! Feel free to include photos and team materials, such as handbooks, fundraising materials, or sponsor packets, to inspire and guide other new teams.

  • Some questions to consider answering might include, but are not limited to:

    • Finding a Workspace: How did your team secure a workspace for building and testing your robot? Were there any unique challenges or solutions related to Vermont's rural setting?

    • Recruiting Team Members: What strategies did you use to recruit students and mentors? Did living in a smaller community affect your recruitment process?

    • Community Engagement: How did your team engage with the local community to raise awareness and support? Did you find any Vermont-specific approaches effective?

    • Fundraising Efforts: What were your primary fundraising strategies, and how successful were they? Were there particular local businesses or organizations that proved crucial to your efforts?

    • Mentorship and Expertise: How did you overcome any gaps in technical expertise, especially given Vermont's smaller tech workforce? Did you leverage remote mentoring or partnerships with nearby colleges?

    • Sustainability and Growth: What steps have you taken to ensure the sustainability of your team beyond its rookie year? Are there any lessons learned you wish you knew earlier?

    • Competition Experience: Can you describe your first competition experience? How did your team prepare, and what surprised you most about the event?

    • Vermont Challenges: What challenges did you face that you believe are unique to Vermont's rural setting, and how did you overcome them?

    • Learning and Development: How did participating in FIRST shape the skills and interests of your team members? Any standout moments of learning?

    • Networking and Collaboration: How did you connect with other FIRST teams, both within Vermont and beyond, to share knowledge and resources?

    • Celebrating Success: What successes or milestones did your team achieve in your rookie year?

    • Adapting to Change: How did your team adapt if initial plans or strategies didn’t work out as expected?

    • Team Culture: How would you describe your team culture, and how did it develop over your rookie year?

    • Creativity and Innovation: Can you share an instance where your team had to think outside the box to solve a problem?

    • Advice to New Teams: What advice would you give to other FIRST teams starting out, especially those in rural areas like Vermont?

  • Write anywhere from 1000-1500 words (or if in video format, anywhere from 5-10 minutes of speaking) from the perspective of telling the story of your team. For Team Testimonials, we are especially interested in hearing from teams about their rookie year experiences, since we have a lot of new rookie teams in Vermont this year who need advice on navigating some of the common pitfalls!

    Provide us with your team name and number. Include at least one current photo your team, plus a second team/robot photo for the page footer. If it's a written testimonial, one or two additional photos for the body of the post would also be awesome (but not required)! Also, you may include team materials or links to your team’s website, if desired.

Submit a Student Testimonial

We’re eager to hear about how the FIRST programs at all levels (FLL, FTC, FRC) have positively impacted the lives and futures of Vermont students. Your stories will be featured on our “Resources for Teams” webpage, under the relevant program category. Whether you’re a current student on a Vermont team or an alumnus living or working in Vermont—even if you weren't originally part of a Vermont team—we’d love to hear your FIRST journey! Feel free to share your experiences using either an essay or video format. Please include photos of yourself (and your team, if possible), your current or former team name/number, and your current workplace or college, if applicable. Check out some example individual testimonials here!

  • Some questions to consider answering might include, but are not limited to:

    • Initial Involvement: What initially drew you to join a FIRST Robotics team, and what were your first impressions?

    • Skill Development: What specific skills did you gain through your participation in FIRST, and how have they been useful in your education or career?

    • Teamwork Experience: How did working as part of a FIRST team influence your ability to work collaboratively with others?

    • Career Pathways: Did participating in FIRST influence your choice of study or career path? If so, how?

    • Memorable Experiences: Can you share a particularly memorable moment or achievement from your time in FIRST?

    • Problem-Solving: How did FIRST programs enhance your problem-solving abilities, and have you applied these skills in real-world situations?

    • Educational Impact: In what ways did FIRST prepare you for college or further education?

    • Networking Opportunities: Did FIRST provide you with networking opportunities that have been beneficial in your career or education?

    • Creative Thinking: How did FIRST encourage you to think creatively, and can you give an example of when you used this skill?

    • Communication Skills: How did participating in FIRST improve your communication skills, and how have you used these skills outside of the program?

    • Confidence Building: Did FIRST help build your confidence in your abilities? Can you describe a situation where this newfound confidence was evident?

    • Community and Belonging: How did being part of a FIRST team contribute to your sense of community or belonging?

    • Technical Skills: What technical skills did you acquire, and how have they been applicable in your current studies or job?

    • Life Lessons: What life lessons did you learn from FIRST that have stuck with you?

    • Future Aspirations: How has FIRST shaped your future goals or aspirations, and what do you hope to achieve next?

  • Write anywhere from 1000-1500 words (or if in video format, anywhere from 5-10 minutes of speaking) from the perspective of your experiences as a former or current student in any of the FIRST programs.

    Include your current/former team name and number. Include at least one current photo of yourself, plus a second photo (of yourself or your team) for the page footer. If it's a written testimonial, one or two additional photos for the body of the post would also be awesome (but not required)! Photos can also include you working at your current job, or on a college project, if you are an alumni. If you are an alumni, provide us with your current job title and workplace, or college and major, if applicable.

Submit a Mentor Testimonial

We invite mentors from all levels of FIRST (FLL, FTC, FRC) to share their inspiring stories and insights about the joys of mentorship. We’re eager to learn about how this experience has been rewarding for both you and your students. Additionally, we’d love to hear about the unique challenges you've encountered as a mentor in Vermont and the creative strategies you've employed to overcome them. Your testimonials will be featured on our “Resources for Teams” webpage, under the relevant program category. Whether you prefer to share your story through an essay or a video, we welcome your contributions! Please include photos of yourself and your team, and share your current or former team name/number, as well as your workplace or college if it’s applicable. Check out some example individual testimonials here!

  • Some questions to include answering in your testimonial might include, but are not limited to:

    • Initial Involvement: What initially inspired you to become a mentor for a FIRST robotics team? How were you recruited?

    • Breakthrough Moments: Can you share a memorable moment where you saw a student reach a breakthrough in their understanding or skills?

    • Your Personal Growth: How has mentoring in the FIRST robotics competition influenced your own personal or professional growth?

    • Overcoming Challenges: What specific challenges have you faced while mentoring in Vermont, and how did you overcome them?

    • Workforce Development: How do you think the FIRST program prepares students for future careers in STEM fields and beyond?

    • Lessons from Students: Describe a time when a student taught you something unexpected during the mentoring process.

    • Guiding Student Learning: How do you balance guiding students and allowing them the space to learn from their own experiences?

    • Student Skills: In what ways have you seen students' confidence and teamwork skills develop as a result of their participation in FIRST?

    • Motivational Strategies: What strategies do you use to keep students motivated and engaged during challenging times?

    • Community Support: Can you share an example of how the Vermont FIRST community (and wider FIRST community) has supported your team?

    • Perspective Shifts: How has your perspective on education or technology changed since you began mentoring?

    • Advice for New Mentors: What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a mentor for the FIRST robotics program?

    • Effective Mentorship: What qualities do you think make an effective mentor in the FIRST robotics competition?

    • Proud Moments: Can you describe a project or solution your team developed that you were particularly proud of?

    • Gracious Professionalism: How do you teach your students about Gracious Professionalism and other core values of FIRST? Can you give some examples of your students carrying forward those values in the competition environment and beyond?

  • Write anywhere from 1000-1500 words (or if in video format, anywhere from 5-10 minutes of speaking) from the perspective of your experiences as a former or current mentor in any of the FIRST programs.

    Include at least one current photo of yourself, plus a second photo (of yourself or your team) for the page footer. If it's a written testimonial, one or two additional photos for the body of the post would also be awesome (but not required)! Provide us with your team name/number, and your current workplace and job title, or college and major, if applicable.

Submit Your Testimonial Here

Send Us Your Testimonial!

Or, email testimonials directly to Jaine.

Written testimonials may be lightly edited for spelling, grammar, and clarity if needed. If you are a minor, you will need a parent or guardian’s permission to feature your testimonial on our website.