FIRST in Alaska partner Alyson Cooper is in Anchorage until October 31st

If you are interested in coaching or volunteering with FIRST, reach out! You can text Alyson at 907 - 465 - 7524, or email her at acooper@jedc.org.

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 coachs 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 recieve 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!

Scheduling remains fluid!

We are having difficulty locking down venues in the Anchorage area. State Championship tournaments and Anchorage/MatSu qualifiers are not finalized. We are working hard to get these events scheduled and will update the calendar as soon as we can. If you are interested in hosting an event, or know of a capable location in Anchorage, please contact acooper@jedc.org

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.  

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!

Tickets can be purchased through your local teams! 

FIRST In Alaska hosts a statewide raffle providing teams with an opportunity to fundraise for travel and other expenses. 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.

Scheduling remains fluid!

We are having difficulty locking down venues in the Anchorage area. State Championship tournaments and Anchorage/MatSu qualifiers are not finalized. We are working hard to get these events scheduled and will update the calendar as soon as we can. If you are interested in hosting an event, or know of a capable location in Anchorage, please contact acooper@jedc.org

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 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.  

Tickets can be purchased through your local teams! 

FIRST In Alaska hosts a statewide raffle providing teams with an opportunity to fundraise for travel and other expenses. 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.

Scheduling remains fluid!

We are having difficulty locking down venues in the Anchorage area. State Championship tournaments and Anchorage/MatSu qualifiers are not finalized. We are working hard to get these events scheduled and will update the calendar as soon as we can. If you are interested in hosting an event, or know of a capable location in Anchorage, please contact acooper@jedc.org

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.  

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!

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!

Tickets can be purchased online, or 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!

The FLL Remote Qualifier has been scheduled for December 6th. Keep up to date with the calendar for the latest news!

FIRST in Alaska will be hosting the UNEARTHED remote qualifier on Saturday, December 6th.  if you are interested in hosting an event, please contact acooper@jedc.org

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!

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!

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!

Scheduling continues for official FIRST events. Keep up to date with the calendar for the latest news!

Updates have been added for the FLL Fairbanks Qualifier. If you are interested in hosting an event, please contact acooper@jedc.org

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!

FIRST In Alaska wants you to have the opportunity to participate in FIRST!

Hardship grants are available for rookie or returning FIRST Tech Challenge teams via a nomination from your Program Delivery Partner (Alyson). FIRST Lego League Classpack funding is also available. See the link below or reach out to acooper@jedc.org for more information.

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.