FIRST® Long Island

FIRST® Long Island is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded by Frederick Breithut In 1984. Our vision is to create an educated workforce for Long Island by opening the minds of middle school and high school students to career opportunities through a collaborative partnership of schools, businesses, community organizations and government.   More...

News and Announcements

 

2025 FIRST® Robotics Competition

The 2025/2026 season is now underway. Look for the following upcoming FIRST Robotic Competition Long Island events:

Kenneth R. Vessey Invitational
This invitational at Half Hollow Hills H.S. West on October 26, 2025 is the largest off season event on Long Island.

2026 FIRST Robotics Competition Kickoff
The kickoff, which will be a kit distribution event will be held on January 10,2026 at Schenck USA.

2026 FIRST Robotics Competition Regional
FIRST Long Island Regional 2026 will be held from March 18th to March 21st.
David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex, Hofstra University.

Hey Alumni!
We want to hear from YOU!
Sign up for our new FIRST® Long Island Alumni mailing list by clicking HERE.

Need parts to help build your robot? Our sponsor FESTO can help. Call them today at 1-800-99-FESTO, mention that you're a FIRST® Robotics Competition or FIRST® Tech Challenge team representative and receive a discount on parts! Visit the company's FIRST®-focused page www.festo.us/first for more details!

In Memoriam

Holly Engel, June 2024

It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you of the passing of Holly Engel, a dear member of the FIRST® Long Island community. Holly was an alum of FIRST Robotics Competition Team 514 from Miller Place. After graduating, she dedicated many years to volunteering for FIRST, quickly becoming a friendly and familiar face at our events. She served as a Pit Admin Supervisor and pit announcer for FRC, as referee and judge for FTC, and as referee, judge, robot inspector, and registration for FLL, as well as serving on the Development Councils for FRC and FLL. Furthermore, she also gave to the wider FIRST community through volunteering outside of Long Island. While we could try to calculate the hours Holly gave to future generations over the years, the impact she had on the FIRST Long Island family and the FIRST community as a whole is infinitely more. There are no words to describe how dearly she will be missed.

Holly’s family has created a digital memorial which can be found here:
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/miller-place-ny/holly-engel-11863262

What's Happening at FIRST® Long Island

FIRST® Long Island Announces Award Winners from the 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition Long Island Regional
March 26, 2025
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Long Island presented its 2025 Long Island Regional on March 21-22 at Hofstra University’s David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex in Hempstead. Forty-nine teams from Long Island, New York City, and India took part in the four-day FIRST® Robotics Competition. This event culminated with awards and honors for areas such as design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship and high-impact partnerships among... More Info
FIRST Long Island Regional FIRST® Robotics Competition To Be Held For 26th Consecutive Year
March 14, 2025
Area students are excited about the 26th annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Long Island Regional FIRST® Robotics Competition, which will be held March 21 to 22 at Hofstra University’s David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. Presented by FIRST Long... More Info
Local Robotics Team Pick up Their Kits of Parts to Build Their Robots in Time to Compete in This Year’s Challenge, “REEFSCAPE SM presented by Haas”
January 30, 2025

FIRSTⓇ (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Long Island kicked off the beginning of the 2025 robotics season with the distribution of Kits of Parts to participating local high school robotics teams on January 4. The kits were distributed at Schenck USA Corporation in Deer Park, which has been a long-standing sponsor of the FIRST Long Island Regional Robotics Competition (FRC). 

 

The FRC will take place on March 19-22 at the David S. Mack...

More Info