We are thrilled to welcome MHI as a our newest "Leader In Technology Partner!" Here's what they shared with us about their commitment:

"FIRST Robotics teams embody the innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence our industry values. MHI proudly sponsors FIRST NC at both the state and team levels because building the future workforce starts with inspiring students early and ensuring every team has the resources to succeed. When we invest in these teams, we're investing in the engineers and innovators who will shape the future of supply chain and material handling." ~Pahola Capellan, Workforce Development Manager.

Thanks for the overall generous support, from judges at events to team sponsorships to operational support!

------

Thank a Mentor Today!

January is Mentoring Month, a time to celebrate the incredible individuals who give their time, energy, and heart to guiding our FRC students. Mentors are the steady hands and listening ears behind every robot, design, and breakthrough moment. They model perseverance, reframe failure as growth, and remind students that confidence is built one challenge at a time.

To all our mentors - past, present, and future - THANK YOU for inspiring curiosity, fueling creativity, and helping North Carolina’s young innovators see what’s possible. You don’t just build robots; you help build futures.

Check out the game video for the new season of Rebuilt! This will be an exciting and interesting game. We are looking forward to watching how the 90 teams across North Carolina tackle the design and strategy challenges.

Ready to Volunteer?

Calling all volunteers! Our tireless Volunteer Coordinators are hard at work making assignments and getting everyone on board for our seven events. Check out the full list of events here. Click on any of the events below to register. Our promise to volunteers: We will clothe you (you get a great t-shirt); we will feed you (NC is known for feeding our volunteers really well); and we guarantee to entertain you (you will love watching the teams and robots in action)!

3/6/26-3/8/26 - Cabarrus County District Event
3/6/26-3/8/26 - Wake County #1 District Event

3/13/26-3/15/26 - UNC Asheville District Event

3/20/26-3/22/26 - Elon University District Event
3/20/26-3/22/26 - Wake County #2 District Event

3/27/26-3/29/26 - UNC Pembroke District Event

4/9/26-4/12/26 - State Championship

Join the fun and register today!

The excitement is building! The 2026 FIRST Robotics Competition season, Rebuilt - sponsored by Haas, launches this weekend. On Saturday, January 10, thousands of students, mentors, and volunteers around the world will tune in for the official Kickoff broadcast and the unveiling of this year's intriguing new game challenge.

For the FIRST NC community, this moment marks more than the start of another robotics season. It's a testiment to the ingenuity, teamwork, and the power of hands-on STEM learning. Each year, Kickoff starts an intense two months of designing, problem-solving, and collaboration as high school students work together to bring their unique ideas to life.

Why does Kickoff matter?
• It reveals the engineering challenge that drives the entire season.
• It connects thousands of student innovators and mentors 
  worldwide.
• It sparks the spirit of curiosity, creativity, and perseverance.

From classrooms to community centers, from North Carolina to teams across the globe, Kickoff reminds us that innovation happens when people come together to learn, imagine, and build a better tomorrow.

The Rebuilt season is about more than robots. It's about rebuilding connections, confidence, and the future itself. Follow the excitement online using #FRCRebuilt and #FIRSTNC as we launch into another season of fun and robots!

Thanks to each and every one of you for voting for FIRST NC as the Honeywell/Panthers Community Innovation Champion! We were honored to receive the award at the Carolina Panthers' final home game.

It was also humbling to stand beside the other groups doing such great work with youth in Charlotte and across North Carolina. Please think about supporting these terrific organizations: Carolina Youth Coalition, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Foundation, The Accelerated Training Program (T-ATP), Dottie Rose Foundation, and Digi-Bridge. 

Thanks for supporting programs that help build a stronger future for our students!

FIRST North Carolina's own VP of Education and Operations, Julia Wagner, received the 2025 Distinguished Afterschool Champion Award from the North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs (NC CAP) during the 2025 Synergy Conference in Raleigh on November 18, 2025. 

NC CAP’s Afterschool Champion awards recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of afterschool and out-of-school-time (OST) professionals across North Carolina. 

Here's what was shared about Julia and her accomplishments at the event:

Julia Wagner is a passionate nonprofit professional dedicated to expanding STEAM experiences for students across the state. As the Vice President of Education and Operations for FIRST North Carolina, Wagner works closely with teachers, schools, and community members to mentor FIRST Robotics Competition teams and support high-quality programming in the afterschool environment. She provides vital professional development for educators, advocates for equitable STEAM experiences, and is committed to expanding STEM and robotics opportunities to students in every corner of the state.

With a strong background in science and science education, Wagner brings a deep understanding of pedagogy and curriculum to her work. When she's not empowering the next generation of innovators, she loves to cook and spend time exploring with her husband and dog.

Julia was selected as a 2025 Distinguished Afterschool Champion because of her skill with partnerships. She partners with a variety of organizations - schools, community-based organizations, and youth-led efforts, to infuse STEM learning into students’ afterschool hours by bringing the world of robotics to life for youth people. She also partners with people, to share her resources, expertise, and knowledge with school-day and afterschool educators to help them feel confident, competent, and empowered to lead hands-on STEM learning. She has successfully expanded her program statewide to make sure that students all across North Carolina have access to engaging STEM opportunities that teach them real-world problem solving.

Voting is officially LIVE for the Community Innovation Award Champion, and FIRST North Carolina needs your vote to bring this win home! The Community Innovation Champion will be honored on the field during the Panthers’ final home game and receive an exclusive grand prize from Honeywell and the Panthers.

Let’s show the entire Panthers community what FIRST Robotics North Carolina can do. Vote for "FIRST Robotics North Carolina" today, then rally your family, friends, coworkers, and fellow STEM fans to do the same. Share this link far and wide! Thanks!!