FTC announces new nation-wide tournament 

The Governor of each state will select one team to compete in the Governors cup! Occurring February 19th - 22nd, 2026, in Washington D.C.'s Constitution hall "The United States Governor’s Cup is more than a competition, it’s a celebration of the next generation of STEM leaders, showcasing how the FIRST community inspires students to dream big, think boldly, and shape the future." FIRST in Alaska has made sure it will be possible for the nominated team to compete in both the Governor's cup and the statewide championship. 

FTC teams, look for an email in your inbox inviting you to apply to be Alaska's representative in the cup! Applications are open, and will close October 31st. Email lwild@jedc.org or acooper@jedc.org with questions!

The new training platform for volunteers and mentors has arrived!

Volunteer ready and mentor ready have launched, bringing with them new and improved paths for training! These are available to all FIRST volunteers and can be accessed at anytime! The first 1,000 individuals to complete the mentor ready training will have the option to receive free swag from FIRST!  

Additionally, volunteers will be able to search and filter through FIRST events by category, roles, training requirements, and more! Find out more on the updated volunteer resource page.  

A plethora of changes have occurred! 

With the announcement of the governors cup, the 2025 - 2026 calendar has experienced some shifts. Nothing which was confirmed has been altered, but a number of the tentative dates have changed. Check the calendar for an up to date overview. If you are interested in hosting an event, please contact acooper@jedc.org

Tickets can be purchased  through your local teams!

Teams and Coaches use the form below to request tickets for your teams! Drawing will be held on march 4th! Ticket holders need not be present to win.  Reach out to acooper@jedc.org with questions.

It's time you add students to your teams roster!

With two coaches who have completed the protection screening, teams may use express registration to bring their students onto the roster. Follow the instructions linked below to efficiently enroll your team. 

 Reach out to acooper@jedc.org or lwild@jedc.org with any questions!

Watch the FIRST In Alaska FLL Coach Training video

On Thursday, September 18th FIRST AK held a FLL coach training event. The recording contains a general introduction to the FIRST Explore and FIRST Challenge programs, as well as a walkthrough of the UNEARTHED season robot game. 

 Reach out to acooper@jedc.org or lwild@jedc.org with any questions!

Updates for FLL Challenge and FTC

FLL Challenge has released a rules update, and FTC has announced weekly updates coming every Thursday!

Nominate up to two students by December 15th 

All nominations are for the Dean’s List are due on December 15th. Please make sure to nominate your top sophomore and junior students before 7:59pm Alaska time. Nominations will open on September 6th!

FIRST has launched a new Scholarship Portal!

This portal presents a plethora of scholarships available to FIRST students all in one hub, and is planned to eventually include internships, apprenticeships, and job opportunities aligned with FIRST’s associated skills and values.  

Registration for FIRST AGE is live! 

Begin your FIRST AGE Journey by creating a new team or registering an existing one. Each team will need two screened coaches to dig into this new archeology themed season. Please reach out to acooper@jedc.org and lwild@jedc.org with any questions!

Check out FIRST Tech Challenge DECODE Information

The FIRST AGE DECODE Season has begun! Delve in with the Kickoff Broadcast, learn the rules of the New Robot game, and explore the Game Resources linked below!

Registration for FIRST Qualifiers!