FIRST Robotics at Kettering University

Since 1999, Kettering University has awarded more than $3.5 million to support Robotics students.

Ford Summer Camp

July 17 - 28, Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 4:00 pm (each Day)
Registration Deadline: Friday, April 28
Acceptance letters will go out the week of May 8.

Kettering University is expanding its summer learning camps to target Flint students thanks to a grant from Ford Motor Company’s Corporate STEAM fund. The $32,000 grant will allow for the creation of the Flint Schools Summer Day Camp in July 2017. The summer camp will focus on creating and learning about model electric vehicles with 20 Flint students. The funds will help with registration fees, supplies and transportation for the students. The camp will be open to high school students, grades 9-12. | Full story. | Apply now.

Robotics teams celebrate launch of 2017 seasons

On Saturday, January 7, 2017, 59 teams from across Michigan attended the Kettering University FIRST Kickoff of this year’s game titled “Steamworks.” | View highlights.

Kettering University hosts a FIRST Tech Challenge

FIRST Tech Challenger Qualifier on Campus

Thirty-two middle school teams from southeast and mid-Michigan participated in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Qualifier on Kettering University's campus on Saturday, December 3. | View highlights.

Kettering University hosts a FIRST Robotics Kickoff every year where teams cheer one another on.

September Kettering Kickoff

The Kettering Kickoff event is an annual contest that matches the robots from last year’s FIRST Robotics season with this year’s high school teams. Kettering University has been the proud host of this competition since 1999. This year’s Kettering Kickoff hosted 48 teams on campus. | Full results 

FIRST Robotics Community Center at Kettering University

Kettering University FIRST Robotics Community Center

The Kettering University FIRST Robotics Community Center was opened in 2014. The Center is the first of its kind on any university campus in the country.

The facility provides work areas for approximately eight FIRST teams, a regulation size practice field as well as a lab that will include machining tools and software. More importantly, the students on these teams will have unprecedented access to Kettering University’s faculty, staff and students as mentors and the campus facilities.

Highlights of the FRCC

Kettering University is proud to host two FIRST Robotics District tournaments.

FIRST Robotics District Competition at Kettering University

In 2016, Kettering University became the first district site in the United States to host back-to-back FIRST Robotics competitions from March 3-5 and March 10-12. A total of 81 teams - 40 and 41 respectively - from across Michigan participated in the competitions at the Recreation Center on Kettering’s campus. This was also the 17th consecutive year that Kettering has hosted a district competition.

The March3-5 winning alliance

  • Fridgebot Inc. (#5084) from Corunna
  • Benzene Bots (#4384) from Troy
  • More Martians (#70) from Goodrich

The March 10-12 winning alliance

  • MooBotics (#5926) from Port Huron
  • Volatile Chaos Inhibitors (#5203) from Sanford
  • Brighton TechnoDogs (#3707) from Brighton

See the Highlights.

Check back here for more information on the 2017 District competition at Kettering.

Highlights from 2016 FIRST Summer Camps at Kettering University

Summer Camps

Each summer, Kettering University hosts summer camps for elementary, middle and high school FIRST Robotics students. 

Learn More>

The Kettering University FIRST Robotics Community Center allows local teams a place to build robots and scrimmage with other teams.

Scholarships

Approximately one-third of Kettering University students participated in robotics programs at the pre-college level. Kettering awards more than 20 Robotics Scholarships annually, each valued at $22,500.

Kettering University's FIRST Summer Camps give high school students opportunities to get hands-on experience in building robots.

Events

FIRST in Michigan Kettering District Competitions:

March 2-4, 2017
March 9-11, 2017

Ford Summer Camp

High school students in the Flint Community Schools are invited to apply to participate in a FIRST Robotics summer day camp sponsored by Ford Motor Company. This camp will introduce students to various aspects of a STEM Curriculum through academic exercises and challenges. The camp will also help students prepare for the ACT/SAT. | More information.

Apply now! >