The FIRST Leadership Award
Formerly known as the Dean’s List Award, this prestigious honor recognizes exceptional students who lead, inspire, and grow STEM communities through FIRST Robotics.
For many students involved in FIRST Robotics, earning the FIRST Leadership Award represents one of the highest honors available in the program.
Previously called the FIRST Dean’s List Award, the program celebrates students who demonstrate leadership, technical excellence, outreach, mentorship, and dedication to inspiring others through STEM education.
From Dean’s List to Leadership Award
The award existed for years under the name Dean’s List Award. During the 2025–2026 season, FIRST officially rebranded the program as the FIRST Leadership Award.
While the name changed, the mission stayed the same: honoring students who make meaningful contributions to their teams, schools, and communities while helping expand access to STEM opportunities.
What the Award Recognizes
- Leadership within robotics teams
- Technical expertise and innovation
- Community outreach and mentoring
- STEM advocacy and inspiration
- Commitment to FIRST core values
How Students Are Selected
Students cannot nominate themselves. Instead, mentors choose students who stand out through leadership, outreach efforts, communication skills, and dedication to their teams.
The Previous Winners Gallery
One of the most interesting parts of the official FIRST Leadership Award page is the archive of previous winners. FIRST maintains yearly galleries showcasing students who earned the award during both the Leadership Award era and the original Dean’s List years.
The Archive Includes:
- Yearly winner collages and team photos
- Student names and robotics team numbers
- Championship stage moments
- Historical Dean’s List recipients
- FTC and FRC finalist showcases
Why This Award Matters
Within the robotics community, the FIRST Leadership Award is often considered the most prestigious individual student recognition available. Unlike robot performance awards, this honor focuses entirely on a student’s ability to inspire others and create long-term impact.
Many finalists and winners go on to become engineering leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, mentors, and advocates for STEM education. The award has also become highly respected among universities and scholarship programs.
A Legacy of Student Leadership
Although the Dean’s List name has officially transitioned into the FIRST Leadership Award, the spirit of the program remains unchanged. It continues to honor students who represent the very best of robotics leadership, innovation, outreach, and mentorship.
As FIRST grows globally, the award also serves as a reminder that robotics is about far more than machines — it is about empowering the next generation of leaders.