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Welcome to the September FRC Link Newsletter!

Updated: Oct 15

Check out this month's highlights and reminders!


Queuing Up - Gear Up With the Latest News


  • Congratulate the winners of the FIRST Pitch Challenge.

  • VITAL Dates for Registration and Preference Selection.

  • Full Event Preferencing Timeline.

  • FIRST Chesapeake 2026 District Event Schedule.

  • Off-Season Events.


Spread the Word - Outreach and Fundraising


  • Grant Season Cometh!

  • TEAMWCP Sponsorship Application.

  • MSBR Grant Opportunities.

  • Outreach & Fundraising Opportunity: FLL-E Maryland.

  • FRC Education Day.

  • FIRST 2026 Scholarship Portal is Live.


Watch the Replay - Key Topics from Last Month



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MLB - Meet FRC!


FIRST Chesapeake and its partnership with the Baltimore Orioles reached game time on August 24th. The Robo-Lions, FRC 2199, introduced the crowd at Camden Yards to Chuck!


Robo-Lion's coach, Tom Milnes, told FIRST Chesapeake that the students rose to the occasion. They quickly designed Chuck to meet the tight deadline. This really shows STEM in action! Commitment to engineering principles and FIRST Core Values can take you to the big leagues!


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REBUILT Registration


VITAL DATES


  1. Register your team withFIRST Inspires - Open Now!*

    You do NOT need to pay the fee at the time of registration or before preference selection.


  2. Round One Preference Selection - Sep 25 - Oct 2

    Teams MUST have two lead coaches with completed YPP Screening by this date to preference.


  3. Round Two Preference Selection - Oct 16 - Oct 23.


  4. Event Registration Closes & Payment Due - Nov 18

    For Deadlines and Fees: Registration and Event Preference Selection


  5. Rebuilt Season Kickoff - Jan 10, 2026.


Key Points


  • Teams may submit and make changes to preferences up to the deadline on November 18.

  • Your team may be assigned to any event you select as a preference. Please select all the available events you can attend in your ranked preference order. Only four slots are reserved for late registering local teams at each event this season.

  • If you are waitlisted, you will only be waitlisted at the one event you indicate as ‘Allow Waitlist’ on your preferences. This indication defaults to the first event you list.

  • IMPORTANT! The preferences you make during the first round of preferencing are independent of those you make during the second round. Your preferences will be removed between the first and second rounds. During the second round, you will start with a clean slate.

  • The information you see on the event preferencing screen is automatically submitted to the system. There is no ‘Save’ or ‘Submit’ button. If you change any information on this screen, those changes are saved automatically.


Click the Button to Learn More About Registration and Preference Selection.







FIRST Chesapeake 2026 District Event Schedule


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Off-Season Events


Battle O' Baltimore Volunteers Needed! Sign up here!.



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Grant Season Cometh!


It's already grant season! Don't forget the FIRST Grant Opportunities page to locate potential funding sources. We also recommend reaching out to your local community foundation for grants and partnerships.




TEAM WCP's 2026 FRC Season Sponsorship Program


WestCoast Products' annual FRC sponsorship program is now taking applications. All FRC teams are welcome to apply using the link below.


They are looking for teams that:

  • Strive for continuous improvement.

  • Show a passion for robotics.

  • Give back to their communities.


Application closes October 31, with winners announced in November. Good luck!




Maryland Space Business Roundtable STEM Education Grants


The Maryland Space Business Roundtable is about to open its 2026 grant season. MSBR’s goal is to encourage STEM education leadership in Maryland for a thriving aerospace workforce future. MSBR is proud to have made broad STEM investments across the entire Maryland region, helping expand the reach of STEM programs, including a focus on underserved populations.


NOTE: Grant applications for 2026 funding will be available soon.




Outreach & Fundraising Opportunity with FIRST LEGO League Explore - Maryland


Is your team looking for a fun and meaningful way to give back? FIRST LEGO League Explore introduces children ages 6–10 to the exciting world of STEM and FIRST—and your team can be part of that journey!


Opportunities include starting a team, mentoring existing teams, or hosting an FLL Explore Festival. Supporting FLL Explore is a great way to inspire future innovators and strengthen your team’s outreach and fundraising efforts.


See this slide deck to learn more about the benefits of supporting FLL Explore Festivals and Teams.


Intrigued? Connect with Maryland’s FLL Explore Program Delivery Partner, Amber Driesman at adriesman@firstchesapeake.org.



FRC Education Day


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November 15th, 2025

Park School


Join us for the 2025 FRC Education Day in Baltimore this November 15! Hosted by the Maryland Robotics Alliance, this annual event is a cornerstone for FRC teams across the District.


Whether you're a rookie team gearing up for your first season or a veteran team aiming to refine your strategies, Education Day offers a wealth of workshops, technical sessions, and networking opportunities to elevate your robotics game.




2026 FIRST Scholarship Program is Live


The 2026 FIRST Scholarship Program is live with new functionality and a new home hosted by our partners at Pearson. Teams and students can still access the Portal starting at the link below.




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Miss Something From Last Month?


Visit the FIRST Chesapeake Blog to read:

  • Dashboard Update Reminders.

  • FIRST SystemCore Alpha Testing.

  • The FRC Team Health Survey.


And more!




Thank you,

FIRST Chesapeake Team




 
 
 

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