FIRST Works: Understanding Why and How It Impacts Participants

Other, Starting a Team (Rookie and Novice)

Presenter: Renee Becker-Blau, President, FIRST Wisconsin

FIRST works.

Research shows that program participation in FIRST increases the number of students interested in STEM — and that interest is influencing their educational and career choices.

But HOW does FIRST work? And where should you focus your time and effort as a mentor to impact your students efficiently and effectively?

Targeted for an audience of both brand new FRC mentors and experienced veterans, this session dives into the WHY of FIRST- why this program was created and it’s purpose, along with the HOW of the FRC program- the program outcomes, educational strategies, and ways to double down on evidence based learning strategies in your mentoring practice.

For those new to the program, gain a foundational understanding of why the program was created, key historic milestones, and identify core strategies that drive change in program participates. For the veteran mentors, come to (quietly) heckle, make note if you learn anything new, and share with me your insights at the end!

About Renee

As a community-building, trail-blazing, #STEMINIST (who believes the future is built better together), Renee Becker-Blau is dedicated to ensuring that every student—regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic background—has the opportunity to choose a career in STEM, rather than having that choice dictated by their circumstances or zip code.

With over twenty years of experience in FIRST, as a student, mentor, and volunteer, Renee’s passion for increasing student access to the FIRST program began in 2009 when she founded a FIRST Alumni organization in Minnesota, creating a network that fostered ongoing connections and support from alumni on campus to local teams in the area. Upon moving to Indiana in 2013, she continued her community-focused work by collaborating with local leadership to transition from the regional model of competition to the district model, a move that expanded access and strengthened the local FIRST community. Recognizing the need for more nonprofit management expertise to sustain and grow the programs, she earned a Master’s in Public Affairs, focusing on Nonprofit Management. After a decade of cultivating and empowering communities in Indiana, Renee spent the last year working with FIRST Wisconsin, where she continues her mission to build inclusive, supportive environments to increase student interest to the FIRST program.

With a proven track record of successfully scaling organizations and fostering communities that thrive, Renee is committed to sharing the lessons she’s learned to help others do the same.

In her limited free time, Renee enjoys… watching her three year old usurp all of her carefully laid plans, over committing herself to various FIRST passion-projects, ripping weeds out of her yard, mentoring mentors, and asking people why they do what they do.