Mississippi FIRST® Tech Challenge Program
Building a better world by engaging students in STEM.
Inspiring Students Through STEM and Robotics
The Center for Mathematics and Science Education at is proud to be the program partner for the Mississippi FIRST® Tech Challenge robotics program since 2012.
We are a statewide community focused on building a better world for tomorrow by engaging students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) while they design, build, and compete with robots in an annual challenge.
FIRST® Tech Challenge teaches students in grades 7-12 the value of hard work, innovation, creativity, and teamwork.
FIRST® Tech Challenge
What is the FIRST® Tech Challenge?
Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and working as a team. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming.
Teams design and build robots, raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach to earn specific awards. Participants are eligible to apply for over $80M in college scholarships throughout the country.
Start a Mississippi FIRST® Tech Challenge Team
The Program Delivery Organization for the FIRST® Tech Challenge robotics program in Mississippi is here to support your team and help you get started. The registration process is handled on the . Of course, you may contact us to discuss the registration process at any time.
Mississippi FIRST® TECH Challenge teams come in all shapes and sizes. However, each team must have:
- Two or more adult coaches or mentors.
- 3 or more participants ages 13-18 (grades 7-12).
- Teams can be of mixed age and gender.
- If this is the first time you are participating, please explore the rookie grant opportunities. Make sure you contact us as well, because we have Mississippi Rookie Grants available for you.
- School affiliation is not required, but a central organization or location where students meet and work on their robot is important. To simulate the playing field, a 12 foot by 12 foot area should be available at times, especially close to the date of an event.
- Gather all your participants and coaches names and register your team on the Each participant will have to register their own account on that page.
- Once you have registered, you will be given your official team number. This number will stay with the team each year.
One Last Step!
Once you're done registering your team, make sure you give me a call. I'll provide you with further instructions!
Mannie Lowe
Project Manager
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Volunteer with the Mississippi FIRST® Tech Challenge
FIRST® Tech Challenge isn't just a robotics competition; it's a movement. It's where students discover the thrill of STEM, the power of teamwork, and the joy of problem-solving. But none of this would be possible without dedicated volunteers like YOU.
Learn more about becoming a FTC volunteer. -
Sponsor the Mississippi FIRST® Tech Challenge
Giving to the Mississippi FIRST® Tech Challenge Robotics Program offers companies, institutions, and individuals an opportunity to support youth education through hands-on STEM experiences that develop a technologically skilled workforce.
Learn more about becoming a FTC sponsor.
Previous Seasons
| Award | Team |
|---|---|
| Inspire Award | Winner: #23521 – DeSoto Technix (Community Group, Southaven, MS) |
| Winning Alliance | Captain: #8803 – East Rankin Robotics (East Rankin Academy, Pelahatchie, MS) |
| Finalist Alliance | Captain: #12272 – Team Lightning (Team Storm Robotics, Long Beach, MS) |
| Think Award | Winner: #10191 – Trial and Error Robotics (Community Group, Vicksburg, MS) |
| Connect Award | Winner: #8651 – Wait For It... (Rankin Robotics, Rankin, MS) |
| Sustain Award | Winner: #33643 – Iron Sharks (Pascagoula Career Technical Institute Pascagoula, MS) |
| Innovate Award sponsored by RTX | Winner: #23994 – Downpour (Team Storm Robotics, Long Beach, MS) |
| Control Award | Winner: #8803 – East Rankin Robotics (East Rankin Academy, Pelahatchie, MS) |
| Reach Award | Winner: #12390 – The Robotic Raiders (The Lamar School, Meridian, MS) |
| Design Award | Winner: #12272 – Team Lightning (Team Storm Robotics, Long Beach, MS) |
| Judges' Choice Award | #23394 – Bionic Panthers (Coahoma County Schools, Clarksdale, MS) |
| Compass Award | Mr. Jeremy Duckworth – Coach, Team #14627 – Spare Parts (Community Group, Laurel, MS) |
| Courage Award in memory of Dawn Lyles | Mrs. Lisa Cooper – Coach, Team #14800 – Cyberdine (Mantachie, MS) |
| Volunteer of the Year Award | Mr. Sarthak Bhatnagar – Referee (Columbus, MS) |
| Program Delivery Partner’s Award | Mr. Randy Jansen – Volunteer, Planning Committee (Flowood, MS) |
| FIRST® Leadership Award Finalists | Gavin A., Team #23628 – TMS Tornadoes Legacy (Tupelo, MS) |
| Governor's Cup Representative & Champion | Winner: #23521 – DeSoto Technix (Community Group, Southaven, MS) |
| Award | Team |
|---|---|
| Inspire Award | Winner: #23521 – DeSoto Technix (Community Group, Southaven, MS) Finalist: #8651 – Wait For It… (Rankin Robotics, Pearl, MS) Finalist: #12272 – Team Lightning (Team Storm 4107 Robotics, Gulfport, MS) |
| Winning Alliance | Captain: #8803 – East Rankin Robotics (East Rankin Academy, Pelahatchie, MS) Partner: #23521 – DeSoto Technix (Community Group, Southaven, MS) |
| Finalist Alliance | Captain: #23659 – RoboBears (Alcorn Central Middle School, Glen, MS) Partner: #23628 – Tornadoes Legacy (Tupelo High School, Tupelo, MS) |
| Think Award | Winner: #11279 – Pure Imagination (Grenada Career & Tech Center, Grenada, MS) Finalist: #12390 – Robotic Raiders (The Lamar School, Meridian, MS) |
| Connect Award | Winner: #23994 – Downpour (Team Storm 4107 Robotics, Gulfport, MS) Finalist: #23659 – RoboBears (Alcorn Central Middle School, Glen, MS) |
| Innovate Award sponsored by RTX | Winner: #8803 – East Rankin Robotics (East Rankin Academy, Pelahatchie, MS) Finalist: #14627 – Spare Parts (Community Group, Mount Olive, MS) |
| Control Award | Winner: #8772 – Houlka Wildcats (Houlka Attendance Center, Houlka, MS) Finalist: #6556 – Tempest (St. Patrick Catholic High School, Biloxi, MS) |
| Motivate Award | Winner: #10191 – Trial and Error (Vicksburg-Warren Community, Vicksburg, MS) Finalist: #19795 – Rockbotics (Saint Stanislaus Robotics, Bay St. Louis, MS) |
| Design Award | Winner: #22911 – Kilobiters (Enterprise High School, Enterprise, MS) Finalist: #22912 – Megabiters (Enterprise High School, Enterprise, MS) |
| Compass Award | Mr. Roy Cloud – Coach, Teams #6556, #21585 (St. Patrick Catholic High School, Biloxi, MS) |
| Courage Award in memory of Dawn Lyles | Mr. Burell Leach – Coach, Team #25773, Crusaders Robotics (Park Place Christian Academy, Pearl, MS) |
| Volunteer of the Year Award | Mr. Brenden Phillips – Coach, Teams #12272, #20217, #23994, #24061 (Gulfport, MS) |
| Program Delivery Partner’s Award | Mrs. Phyllis Skipper – Coach, Team #12390, Robotic Raiders (Lamar School, Meridian, MS) |
| Dean’s List Finalists | Austin B., Team #12272 – Lightning (Gulfport, MS) Zachory M., Team #23628 – Tornadoes Legacy (Tupelo, MS) Madeleine S., Team #11279 – Pure Imagination (Grenada, MS) |
| Award | Team |
|---|---|
| Inspire Award | Winner: #8651 – Wait For It… (Rankin Robotics, Pearl, MS) Finalist: #6302 – Odyssey (Hartfield Academy, Flowood, MS) Finalist: #14236 – Slight Malfunction (Community Group, Brookhaven, MS) |
| Winning Alliance | Captain: #23521 – DeSoto Technix (Community Group, Southaven, MS) 1st Pick: #8803 – East Rankin Robotics (East Rankin Academy, Pelahatchie, MS) 2nd Pick: #16151 – R U Serious (Community Group, Brandon, MS) |
| Finalist Alliance | Captain: #12390 – Robotic Raiders (The Lamar School, Meridian, MS) 1st Pick: #6302 – Odyssey (Hartfield Academy, Flowood, MS) 2nd Pick: #23628 – TMS Tornadoes Legacy (Tupelo Middle School, Tupelo, MS) |
| Think Award | Winner: #14236 – Slight Malfunction (Community Group, Brookhaven, MS) Finalist: #10191 – Trial and Error (Vicksburg Jr. High School, Vicksburg, MS) Finalist: #6556 – Tempest (St. Patrick Catholic High School, Biloxi, MS) |
| Connect Award | Winner: #6302 – Odyssey (Hartfield Academy, Flowood, MS) Finalist: #12390 – Robotic Raiders (The Lamar School, Meridian, MS) Finalist: #21585 – Irish Storm (St. Patrick Catholic High School, Biloxi, MS) |
| Innovate Award sponsored by Raytheon Technologies | Winner: #10191 – Trial and Error (Vicksburg Jr. High School, Vicksburg, MS) Finalist: #23521 – DeSoto Technix (Community Group, Southaven, MS) Finalist: #11279 – Pure Imagination (Grenada Career & Tech Center, Grenada, MS) |
| Control Award | Winner: #23521 – DeSoto Technix (Community Group, Southaven, MS) Finalist: #12390 – Robotic Raiders (The Lamar School, Meridian, MS) Finalist: #14627 – Spare Parts (Community Group, Laurel, MS) |
| Motivate Award | Winner: #11279 – Pure Imagination (Grenada Career & Tech Center, Grenada, MS) Finalist: #16151 – R U Serious (Community Group, Brandon, MS) Finalist: #6273 – Technocats (Bogue Chitto Attendance Center, Bogue Chitto, MS) |
| Design Award | Winner: #14627 – Spare Parts (Community Group, Laurel, MS) Finalist: #6273 – Technocats (Bogue Chitto Attendance Center, Bogue Chitto, MS) Finalist: #6205 – SCARLET (SRI, Ridgeland, MS) |
| Judge’s Award | Winner: #22911 – Kilobiters (Enterprise High School, Enterprise, MS) |
| Promote Award | Winner: #16151 – R U Serious (Community Group, Brandon, MS) |
| Compass Award | Mr. Rob Davis – #14236 – Slight Malfunction (Community Group, Brookhaven, MS) |
| Courage Award in memory of Dawn Lyles | Ms. Jackie Lewis – Coach of Teams #22426, #22911, #22912, and #22923 |
| Volunteer of the Year Award | Mr. Ethan Crain, Referee – Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge, East Rankin Coach |
| Program Delivery Partner’s Award | Mr. Ryan Elmore – Coach, Pure Imagination – FTC Team #11279, FRC Team #9435 |
| Dean’s List Finalists | #1: Lanya E., #11279 – Pure Imagination Finalist #2: Jacob G., #16151 – R U Serious Finalist #3: Joey Q., #12272 – Team Lightning Finalist |
Wondering What the Hype is About?
