Workshops & Panels
2025 Trainings and Discussions
Registration to present opens April 28th and closes June 15th. Up to two (2) presenters for each accepted workshop will receive complimentary tickets. Complete workshop submissions not selected will receive up to two (2) vouchers for the current available pricing.
2025 FIRST Mentor Conference Descriptions
(In progress. Last update: 08-14-25)
Barriers and Bridges – A Strategic Approach to Having a Real Impact
Presenter: Isriah Keila (321) Key Takeaway: The strategic thinking skills that we all pride ourselves on can be applied to non-robot fields! Talking about your Impact is great - but how do you actually have a *real* impact? In this session, we'll tackle crafting a...
Build Season is a Marathon and a Sprint
Presenter: Mike Corsetto (1678) Key Takeaway: FRC is Hard. Learn to be the Champion your team needs to keep pushing. Learn methods to plan out your FRC season to keep your team energized, engaged, nimble, and sustainable. FRC is Hard. Learn to be the Champion your...
Building a Serial Excellence in Engineering Team
Presenter: Gabby DeYoe (3005) Key Takeaway: The value of quality engineering documentation and how to develop it (and your students) effectively. Whether you’re optimizing district points, teaching professional engineering skills, or just trying to meet team goals,...
Building a Strong Software Team
Presenters: Jonah Snider (581) | Saikiran Ramanan (581) Key Takeaway: Strategies on how to nurture a healthy and competitive software team. As FRC software grows in complexity, it is becoming increasingly difficult to train strong student developers and coordinate...
Building Better Robots Faster with the Power of Simulation
Presenter: Erik Larson, Altair Global Academic Team Key Takeaway: Simulation is the key to building a better robot. Altair Inspire is the way to easily achieve that. Simulation is the key to advancing robot designs to the next level, building stronger alliances, and...
BYOB: how to Build Your Own Bumpers (without losing your mind)
Presenter: Christine Low (BSME, MEEE) (3128) Key Takeaway: New Bumper rules = better, tougher, longer-lasting bumps for your FRC Team: A How-To Guide. How we got the new bumper rules (a brief history), examples of “new bumps” that worked very well, and how to build...
Designing Clever Linkages & Cams
Presenter: Orion DeYoe (3005) Key Takeaway: Sheet metal design and manufacturing techniques and best practices. An intuition for when and how to use a linkage or cam on a FIRST robot. and cams provide advanced and efficient motion on FIRST robots while saving space...
Designing Success: Teaching Onshape CAD for FIRST Robotics
Presenter: Naomi Edwards (4980) Key Takeaway: Empower your team to master Onshape and design robots efficiently—from concept to competition. This session explores pedagogical methods and essential resources for teaching CAD to FIRST Robotics students. Learn how to...
Drive Coach & Strategy Panel
Panelist: Marco Guerra (3005)Saikiran Ramanan (581)Kyle Hughes (27)Jakob Wittry (3847)
Driver Assist Deep Dive
Presenter: Erik Skiles (8230) Key Takeaway: Incorporate driver assist, pioneered by 1690, into your robotics program in a principled way. FRC 1690 pioneered driver assist controls. This control system deep dive provides a framework for introducing driver assist to...
Elevator Design
Presenter: Adam Heard (581) Key Takeaway: Don't overthink it --- effectively use existing data to solve the right problems. Elevators go up and down, sometimes side to side., This workshop will cover elevators bottom to top from basics to advanced. Topics will include...
Estimation & Localization in FRC
Presenter: James Kuszmaul (1868) Key Takeaway: How to approach thinking about & implementing controls on their robots. In the modern FRC technology ecosystem, there are a wide variety of tools to make your robot do what you want, from manually-driven voltage...
Fostering Inclusion of Neurodivergent People on a FIRST Team
Presenter: Eva True (498) Key Takeaway: A deeper understanding of how inclusion works on a FIRST team, as well as its importance. Neurodiversity (autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, etc.) is overrepresented in FIRST, compared to the general population. Eva True, an advisor...
FRC Controls for Everyone: A Mentor’s Guide to Teaching (and Learning) FRC Controls
Presenter: Eugene Fang (604) Key Takeaway: Learn and teach FRC controls with just high school math, made scalable through simulation. Whether you’re a mentor trying to wrap your head around controls or looking for a better way to teach your students, this session is...
FRC Machining for non Machinists
Presenters: Emilio Parra: (3847) Key Takeaway: Reliable robots start with the right tools, smart design, efficient processes, and simple training. Curious how to make parts fast for competitive FRC robots without a machinist? Discover how Spectrum 3847 has built...
Gears in Motion: Culture, Communication, and Collaboration
Presenters: Elise Cronin-Hurley and Amanda Little (1902) Key Takeaway: Build stronger, more sustainable teams by understanding and honoring each person's genius. CORRECTED: Discover how the “6 Types of Working Genius” framework can transform the way your team...
How to build a winning team culture
Presenters: Anupam Goli (1833) | Kellen Hill’s (1833) Key Takeaway: Set SMART Goals, involve all stakeholders, establish team identity, reflect on wins and losses. FRC is not just a robotics competition, but also a vehicle for building strong individual mindsets and...
Impact That Resonates: Framing Your Story with Integrity
Presenters: Cathy Schulz (1538) and Elise Cronin-Hurley (1902) Key Takeaway: Context and authenticity help judges understand your team’s impact within its unique resources. What makes a FIRST Impact Award submission truly stand out? Submissions that resonate are...
It’s Not About Winning – Applying Sports Psychology to FRC
Presenters: Stephanie Morrison and Evan Morrison (2910) Key Takeaway: Winning is an Outcome, Success is an Action. Sometimes when we try to win, losing feels like failing. Many people shy away from setting lofty competitive goals due to fear of failure. Developing a...
Mech Design Panel
Panelist: RC (1323/WCP) Allison Kneisler (3538) Sean Stevens (341) Mike Corsetto (1678)
Mentor Development Initiative Workshop
Key Takeaway: I am all Ears! Ready to Listen & Learn: Hear what FIRST has planned for a new initiative focused on developing and supporting mentors and give us your thoughts! Presenter: Ashley Johnson, Field and Volunteer Support Senior Manager at FIRST In 2023,...
One Code Base: Multiple Robots
Presenter: Allen Gregory (3847) Key Takeaway: Configuring code based on the RoboRIO allows for a single repo for all your robots in a season. When building multiple robots in a season, such as alpha, practice, & competition robots, or sibling teams keeping...
Qualcomm RUBIK Pi x PhotonVision
Presenter: Rami Mouro, Qualcomm Key Takeaway: There is some cool vision co-processor that is easy to use, cheap and powerful. Rubik Pi brings advanced AprilTags and AI Object detection to FIRST teams with a 12 TOPS NPU, and PhotonVision support. Built on Qualcomm’s...
Respond, Don’t React: Communication Tools for Coaches & Mentors
Presenters: Adrienne Emerson (148) & Allison Kneisler (3538) Key Takeaway: Tools to help communicate with students so they feel empowered, not frustrated. Does the manner in which you interact with and respond to students serve to make them stronger? Have you ever...
Software Panel
Panelist: Moderator: Saikiran Ramanan (581) Eugene Fang (604) Gregory Koch (5895) Peter Johnson (WPILib) Austin Schuh (1868)
Sponsor Panel
Panelist:Moderator: Sarah HeimlichPat Barnes (John Deere) Ed Yeh (Intuitive Foundation) Austin (PGE)
SystemCore/WPILib 2027
Presenter: Peter Johnson (WPILib) Key Takeaway: Unification of FTC and FRC software in 2027+ will make it easier for FRC/FTC program crossover. Discussion of the upcoming 2027 control system changes and future of FRC and FTC software. Learn about the latest...
The Improvement Process: Techniques for Goal Setting and Season Debriefs
Presenters: Stephanie Morrison and Evan Morrison (2910) Key Takeaway: Every team can benefit from implementing processes to set team goals and evaluate their season. Developing robust processes for goal setting and post-season evaluation are powerful tools to generate...
Using Data to Optimize your Kickoff and Season
Presenter: Austin Haddox (1678) Key Takeaway: Effective methods for evaluating scoring tradeoffs and competitive thresholds early in the season. Have you ever wondered, ""What should we do?"" or ""How much do we need to score to compete?"" This presentation will cover...
WFA Panel
Panelist:Moderator: Jakob Wittry (3847)Kyle Hughes (27)Allen Gregory (3847)Francisco ""Paco War"" Guerra (4635)Eric Stokely (FIRST WA)Chris Fultz (234)
What is Team Culture and how do you make it work
Presenter: Lonny Weissman (FIRST Senior Mentor) Key Takeaway: What are the best practices in setting a positive and supportive team culture. Mentors across various teams to talk about creating a sustainable team culture that informs their team members interactions...
Wired Differently: How Mentoring Girls is (and Isn’t) Different
Presenters: Shosh Cohen and Susan Cheng (1868) Key Takeaway: Mentors can and should empower girls to lead with confidence, voice, and ownership. Mentoring girls in FIRST isn’t about moving the bar—it’s about clearing the path. In this session, you'll hear insights...