About
This 2019-2020 season, FIRST RISESM, powered by Star Wars: Force for Change, is setting out to inspire citizens of the galaxy to work together, strengthening and protecting the Force that binds us and creating a place where collaboration and collective wisdom can elevate new ideas and foster growth.
Together, we RISE.
What if you could build a better world? Where would you begin?
More than ever, we must come together to innovate and solve problems. In FIRST, you are part of a thriving community brimming with inspiration, creativity, and hope for a stronger, more sustainable future—one that’s built better together.
SKYSTONESM presented by Qualcomm coming in September 2019.
Check out the official teaser for the FIRST Tech Challenge SKYSTONESM season.
Schedule of Events
2019 – 2020 Schedule of Events
August 30, 2019 – (Alumni Event) Ice Cream Social and Game Night (Oxford, MS)
September 7, 2019 – FIRST Tech Challenge Kickoff (Flowood, MS)
September 14 & 15, 2019 – (Alumni Event) Robot in a Weekend (Oxford, MS)
October 5, 2019 – Build-it Day (Tupelo, MS)
October 19, 2019 – “Ready or Not” Scrimmage (Richland, MS)
October 26, 2019 – Build-it Day (Biloxi, MS)
November 2, 2019 – Build-it Day (Vicksburg, MS)
November 9, 2019 – Qualifier (Bogue Chitto, MS)
November 16, 2019 – Qualifier (Biloxi, MS)
December 7, 2019 – Qualifier (Oxford, MS)
January 11, 2020 – Qualifier (Flowood, MS)
January 18, 2020 – Qualifier (Pascagoula, MS)
February 1, 2020 – Qualifier (Jackson, MS)
February 8, 2020 – Qualifier (Senatobia, MS)
Late February/Early March 2020 – Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge Championship (Oxford, MS)
April 13 – 18, 2020 – FIRST Championship (Houston, TX)
April 25 – May 2, 2020 – FIRST Championship (Detroit, MI)
Kickoff
Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge Kickoff
Date: September 7, 2019
Location: Hartfield Academy (1240 Luckney Road, Flowood, MS 39232)
Time: 8:45AM – 4:00PM
Cost: Free
Description: Kickoff is the first event of the season where teams from around the state come together to learn about the upcoming season’s game. The morning of Kickoff gives teams the opportunity to see and explore the new field and ask questions prior to designing and building robots. It also allows teams to interact with one another by sharing experiences, making new friends, and offering peer guidance/advice. After lunch, teams participate in one-hour workshops on topics such as robot design, team organization, judging preparation, and much more.
Registration: Click here to register for Kickoff. All teams/attendees must register for this FREE event. Please completely fill out the registration form to secure your spot at kickoff. If you have multiple teams, please submit multiple entries (one per team).
Registration will close at 11:59 PM on Saturday, August 31, 2019.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
We have a full agenda for Kickoff 2019 – including over a dozen classes that you and your team can attend! Click here to see the full Kickoff Guide.
Please Note: Each class is limited to 25-30 attendees. Most classes will be repeated throughout the day among the three time periods. If the classroom is overcrowded, please attend another class and go to the class the next time the topic is presented. If you are not able to attend one or more of the classes, we will be uploading the presentations to a location on the Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge website after the Kickoff.
Thanks to Team #6302 – NEKOS, lunches will be available for purchase. Please stay tuned for more details to come before Kickoff.
Pre-Season Events
Workshops, Build-it Days, and Scrimmages
Bring your tools, robots, robot parts and be prepared to work with other teams on designing, building, and testing your robots. RSVP to Mannie Lowe (first@olemiss.edu) to attend any of the events listed below. There is no fee to attend these events.
October 5, 2019 – Build-it Day at Tupelo Middle School (Tupelo, MS)
Sponsored by FTC #12389 & #13432
October 19, 2019 – “Ready or Not” Scrimmage at Richland Community Center (Richland, MS)
Sponsored by FTC #8651
October 26, 2019 – Build-it Day at St. Patrick’s Catholic School (Biloxi, MS)
Sponsored by FTC #6556
November 2, 2019 – Build-it Day/Scrimmage at U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) (Vicksburg, MS)
Sponsored by FRC#456
Qualifiers
Qualifiers are held in several areas across the state (identified below). At these tournaments, teams compete for their spot at the Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge Championship in Oxford, MS. Qualifiers adhere to FIRST standards in format, judging, and awards.
2019 – 2020 Qualifiers & Registration
Bogue Chitto Qualifier Hosted by Technocats #6273
November 9, 2019
Bogue Chitto Attendance Center (385 Monticello St. SE, Bogue Chitto, MS 39629)
Registration Fee: $50
Biloxi Qualifier Hosted by Tempest #6556
November 16, 2019
St. Patrick Catholic High School (18300 St. Patrick Rd, Biloxi, MS 39532)
Registration Fee: $50
Oxford Qualifier Hosted by Robodores #6076
December 7, 2019
Lafayette High School (100 Commodore Dr., Oxford, MS 38655)
Registration Fee: $50
Flowood Qualifier Hosted by NEKOS #6302
January 11, 2020
Hartfield Academy (1210 Luckney Rd., Flowood, MS 39232)
Registration Fee: $75
Pascagoula Qualifier Hosted by Avengers #11033
January 18, 2020
Pascagoula High School (1716 Tucker Ave., Pascagoula, MS 39567)
Registration Fee: $75
Jackson Qualifier Hosted by Techno Warriors Advanced #3486
February 1, 2020
Muse Center, Hinds Community College (515 Country Pl. Pkwy., Pearl, MS 39208)
Registration Fee: $75
Senatobia Qualifier Hosted by Challenge Accepted #7802
February 8, 2020
Northwest Community College (4975 Highway 51 N, Senatobia, MS 38668)
Registration Fee: $75
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Qualifier Registration
Before a team can submit an application to participate in a qualifier, the team must be “Event Ready”. To be “Event Ready”, the following must be true:
The $275 FIRST annual registration fee has been paid
Two adult coaches are registered and have been screened by the FIRST system (through the Dashboard)
There are no Outstanding Tasks listed on the Dashboard (see FIRST Registration Issues.pdf for details)
Please note, some tasks that may arise may take longer than a week to finish, so try to get “Event Ready” now.
Teams will be able to submit an application to participate in qualifiers mid-august. Please check back at that time.
Alumni Events
Alumni Events
*RSVP to Mannie Lowe (first@olemiss.edu) to attend any of the events listed below.
Ice Cream Social and Game Night
Date: Friday, August 30, 2019
Time: 6:30PM – 9:00PM
Location: Jackson Avenue Center, Classroom Q24 (1111 Jackson Ave. W., University, MS 38677)
Cost: Free
Description: Learn about the events for the upcoming SKYSTONESM season and mingle with fellow FIRST alumni over ice cream and board games.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Robot in a Weekend
Date: Saturday, September 14, 2019 & Sunday, September 15, 2019
Time: 8:00AM – 4:00PM (Saturday), 10:00AM – 6:00PM (Sunday)
Location: Jackson Avenue Center, Classroom Q24 (1111 Jackson Ave. W., University, MS 38677)
Cost: Free
Description: Remember back to your days on a FIRST team as you brainstorm, design, and prototype parts of a robot to help accomplish this year’s game, SKYSTONESM presented by Qualcomm. Components of this event will be videotaped to provide support for current teams.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
*additional Alumni Events will be announced throughout the season.
All FIRST Alumni are invited to volunteer at any of our MS FIRST Tech Challenge events. Click here for more information.
Contact Us
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
