RISING TIDES · NEAR-PEER MENTORING
A rising tide lifts every one.
College students, trained as near-peer mentors and placed with high school robotics teams for a full season, from the first build night to the competition floor.
A mentor and students at work on a FIRST Robotics Competition robot
<1 %
OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS IN OUR REGION HAVE HANDS-ON ROBOTICS ACCESS
10,235
STUDENTS SERVED IN FY26
493
TEAMS ACROSS DC, MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA
18,912
VOLUNTEER HOURS IN FY26
HOW IT WORKS
One mentor. One team. One full season.
1
Apply and get certified
FIRST Mentor Ready training, youth protection screening and a background check before day one.
2
Match with a team
Each mentor joins one team, matched by campus, program and schedule.
3
Mentor the season
Build nights from January through March, then events alongside the students.
4
Grow the pipeline
Students see a path one step ahead of them. Mentors build leadership experience and connect with our network of professional mentors.
CAMPUS PARTNERS
Built with the campuses next door.
Your campus next
WITH SUPPORT FROM
WHERE RISING TIDES RUNS
Two campuses. One model.
WASHINGTON, DC
Howard University
Ten Howard students mentoring five DC Public Schools teams this season.
HAMPTON, VA · LAUNCHING
Virginia Peninsula Community College
VPCC students mentoring four teams across the Coastal Virginia STEM Ecosystem, with support from the COVA STEM Hub. Now recruiting mentors.
WHY NEAR-PEER
Close enough to remember, far enough to teach.
“The best mentor for a fifteen-year-old builder is often someone who was standing in that same pit four years ago.”
Alex Bryant, President, FIRST Chesapeake
QUESTIONS
What mentors and campuses ask first.
Who can mentor?
College and university students at a partner campus, in any major. Teams need builders, coders, designers and organizers, so you don’t have to be an engineer.
How much time does it take?
Most of the work happens during build season, January through March, plus the events your team attends. Your campus lead shares the full schedule when you join.
Does it cost anything?
No. Mentors volunteer, and travel and meal costs for program activities are covered.
Can my campus join?
If your college or university is in DC, Maryland or Virginia, start with the short form below and we’ll follow up.
What training is involved?
Every mentor completes FIRST Mentor Ready training, youth protection screening and a background check before working with students.
JOIN THE NEXT COHORT
The next cohort starts with a short note.
Students, faculty, teachers and partners all start here. We’ll follow up with the right next step.