With the FIRST 2025 – 2026 Season Championships scheduled, most qualifiers are now scheduled. Stay up to date with the calendar! 

The FLL State Championship will take place on February 21st at Change Point in Anchorage! The FTC State championship is set for February 6-7 at Colony High School. Additionally, the FLL Remote tournament has been rescheduled for January 24.

* Denotes a tentative date / location

Tickets can now be purchased online as well as through your local teams!

FIRST in Alaska hosts a statewide raffle providing teams with an opportunity to fundraise for travel and other expenses.  Tickets can be purchased from your local team or on the FIRST in AK Website. Online purchases can be dedicated to a ticket selling team to help with their fundraising. We encourage all teams to make an effort to sell Tickets! 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.

Be sure to stay up to date on your FTC and FLL news!

Team coaches are automatically on the blast list, so be sure to register as such if you are looking to stay up to date on FIRST news! If you are not a coach but wish to receive the team blasts, sign up below!

There is still time to register for the season!

FIRST Tech Challenge has released a series of starter bots, significantly reducing the barrier of entry for FTC! Begin the season with an already functioning robot! Additionally, FLL teams capitalize on fast shipping times and get your supplies with ample time left in the season! For questions on the registration process please reach out to acooper@jedc.org and lwild@jedc.org with any questions!

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!

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!

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.  

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!

FIRST has created a 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.