--- title: "FIRST: The launch pad for the future of youth" description: FIRST is a global robotics community preparing young people for the future and the world’s leading youth-serving nonprofit advancing STEM education. image: https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/395x380-Hero-earl.jpg --- ### Dr. Earl Scime Eberly Distinguished Professor and Chair of Physics, West Virginia University and Mentor, *FIRST* Robotics Competition Team 2614, MARS; Morgantown, West Virginia The *FIRST* program is a great vehicle for pulling kids together and inspiring them to build their own brand of competence. It’s a launch pad for the future of youth everywhere. *FIRST* breaks the mold for what students think they can do, opening their eyes and changing their lives. One hundred percent of our *FIRST* students have gone on to college, receiving some sort of scholarship. [ Share Your Story](https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/5d5985a569d8423b8a0739c9efa27cea) ** [Mentor Stories](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/mentor-stories) #### Share it: [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://community.firstinspires.org/first-launch-pad-future-youth) [** ](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://community.firstinspires.org/first-launch-pad-future-youth) [** ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://community.firstinspires.org/first-launch-pad-future-youth) ![Default Author Image](https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/Community%20Blog%20v2/images/FIRST-author-icon.svg) Author [Admin](https://community.firstinspires.org/author/admin) ### Related Posts ** [Supporters](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/supporters) FIRST taught me valuable coding and leadership skills July 3, 2018 ** [Team Stories](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/team-stories) FIRST inspires Cleveland’s championship team July 3, 2018 ** [Parents & Families](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/parents-families) FIRST changed my son’s life December 1, 2017 ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1200203950045814&ev=PageView&noscript=1) ![](https://ct.pinterest.com/v3/?tid=2615041699514&noscript=1) ![](https://ct.pinterest.com/v3/?tid=2615041699514&event=PageVisit&noscript=1)