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MISSISSIPPI FIRST® TECH CHALLENGE PROGRAM

Building a better world by engaging students in STEM.

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Teaching Students Through STEM and Robotics

The Center for Mathematics and Science Education at the University of Mississippi 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.

What is FIRST Tech Challenge?

It’s way more than building robots. FIRST Tech Challenge teams (up to 15 team members, grades 7-12) are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge in an alliance format. Participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have!”

  • 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.

What's new for FIRST® Tech 2024-2025 season?

The ocean is more than what you can see on the horizon. Beneath the surface lies our planet’s most complex ecosystems, full of life and potential for exploration and learning, where each inhabitant has a role to play in building a thriving environment.

  • During the 2024-2025 FIRST season, FIRST® DIVE℠ presented by Qualcomm, teams will use their STEM and collaboration skills to explore life beneath the surface of the ocean. Along the way, we’ll uncover the potential in each of us to strengthen our community and innovate for a better world with healthy oceans.

In the INTO THE DEEP℠ presented by RTX challenge, launching September 7, 2024, FIRST Tech Challenge teams will dive their robots into the depths of the ocean to explore the unknown and reveal its wonders.

 Dive Deep Logo

INTO THE DEEP℠ the 2024-2025 Season

Get ready for the best FIRST® Tech season yet. Find information on the 2024-2025 season here.
  • May 15, 2024 – FIRST  Registration opens – Online
  • September 7, 2024 – FIRST  Tech Challenge Kickoff event – The Lamar School – Meridian, MS
  • September 16, 2024 – Mississippi FTC registration opens
  • October – November -Various Build-it Days/ Scrimmages
  • October 19 – Gulfport Build-it Day/Scrimmage – West Harrison Middle School – Gulfport, MS
  • December 7, 2024 – Tupelo Qualifier – Tupelo Middle School – Tupelo, MS
  • December 14, 2024 – Gulfport Qualifier – West Harrison Middle School – Gulfport, MS
  • January 11, 2025 – Biloxi Qualifier – St. Patrick Catholic School – Biloxi, MS
  • January 18, 2025 – Grenada Qualifier – Grenada High School – Grenada, MS
  • February 1, 2025 – Pearl Qualifier – Park Place Christian Academy – Pearl, MS
  • February 8, 2025 – Meridian Qualifier – The Lamar School – Meridian, MS
  • February 21-22, 2025 – Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge Championship – University
    of Mississippi – Oxford, MS
  • April 15-19, 2025 – FIRST Championship – George R. Brown Convention Center –
    Houston, TX

The kickoff of the INTO THE DEEP presented by RTX season will take place on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at The Lamar School (544 Lindley Rd, Meridian, MS 393051240 Luckney Rd, Flowood, MS 39232).

The agenda for the day is as follows:

  • 8:15 – 9:00: Arrival and Check-in / Meet and Greet
  • 9:00 – 10:00: Plenary Meeting - All attendees
  • 10:00 – 12:00: Introducing: INTO THE DEEP / Game Q&A
  • 12:00 – 1:00: Lunch
  • 1:00 – 1:50: Breakout Sessions #1
  • 2:00 – 2:50: Breakout Sessions #2
  • 3:00 – 3:30: Wrap Up / Q&A / Game Element Giveaway

2024-2025 Qualifiers will be held on the following dates.

  • December 7, 2024 – Tupelo Qualifier – Tupelo Middle School – Tupelo, MS
  • December 14, 2024 – Gulfport Qualifier – West Harrison Middle School – Gulfport, MS
  • January 11, 2025 – Biloxi Qualifier – St. Patrick Catholic School – Biloxi, MS
  • January 18, 2025 – Grenada Qualifier – Grenada High School – Grenada, MS
  • February 1, 2025 – Pearl Qualifier – Park Place Christian Academy – Pearl, MS
  • February 8, 2025 – Meridian Qualifier – The Lamar School – Meridian, MS

Registration link for all Qualifiers – TBA

For additional information, please contact:

  • Center for Mathematics and Science Education
    The University of Mississippi
    1111 Jackson Avenue W., Suite Q
    P.O. Box 1848
    University, MS 38677
  • Phone: (662) 915-6621
  • Fax: (662) 915-1762
  • Email: first@olemiss.edu

The Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge Championship will take place on Friday-Saturday, March 8-9, 2024 at the University of Mississippi.

  • Judging and Inspection will be held at the Jackson Avenue Center on Friday, March 8th and the Robotics Competition will be held at the Tad Smith Coliseum on Saturday, March 9th.

The following twenty-four (24) teams have qualified to attend the Championship working to earn a invitation to the FIRST Championships to be held in Houston, TX on April 17-20, 2024.

Team information
Team #  Team NameSchool/OrganizationHow Advanced
6205SCARLETSR1Motivate Award Wesson
6273TechnocatsBogue Chitto Attendance CenterConnect Award Grenada
6302OdysseyHartfield AcademyThink Award Wesson
6556TempestSt Patrick Catholic High SchoolRunner-up Inspire Award Biloxi
8651Wait For It…Rankin RoboticsWinner Inspire Award Biloxi
8690Twisted CircuitsWater Valley High SchoolWild Card
8772Houlka RoboWildcatsHoulka Attendance CenterRunner-up Inspire Award Tupelo
8803East Rankin RoboticsEast Rankin AcademyWinning Alliance Captain Tupelo
10191Trial and Error RoboticsVicksburg-Warren CommunityRunner-up Inspire Award Brandon
11279Pure ImaginationGrenada School DistrictWinner Inspire Award Tupelo
12272Team LightningStorm 4107 RoboticsThink Award Brandon
12390Robotic RaidersLamar SchoolWinner Inspire Award Brandon
14236Slight MalfunctionCommunity TeamRunner-up Inspire Award Grenada
14627Spare PartsCommunity TeamWinning Alliance Captain Biloxi
16151R U SeriousNGenius LearningConnect Award Biloxi
19795RockboticsSaint StanislausHighest Ranked Robot Wesson
21585Irish StormSt Patrick Catholic High SchoolConnect Award Meridian
22911KilobitersEnterprise High SchoolWinning Alliance Captain Meridian
22912MegabitersEnterprise High SchoolFinalist Alliance Captain Meridian
23521DeSoto TechnixCommunity TeamWinner Inspire Award Grenada
23577Regents Roaring LionsRegents School of OxfordFinalist Alliance Captain Grenada
23628TMS Tornadoes LegacyTupelo Middle SchoolWinning Alliance 2nd Pick Meridian
23994Team DownpourStorm 4107 RoboticsWinning Alliance 1st Pick Wesson
24923NanobitersEnterprise High SchoolWinning Alliance 1st Pick Meridian

Wondering What the Hype is About?

The Mississippi FIRST® Tech Challenge program is a lot of things. It's exciting, creative, challenging, and fun. But it's so much more than that. 

Check out our video to get a better idea of what all the hype is about.

Center for Mathematics and Science Education

The Center for Mathematics and Science works to improve mathematics and science education in Mississippi by fostering interaction between academic and K-12 communities, support the implementation of research-based methods in the classroom, and promote interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).