Robotics and STEM Students Invited to Apply by Sunday, May 31

THE OPPORTUNITY:

Dematic is committed to supporting the upcoming generation of science and technology leaders and innovators. Since 2008, Dematic has partnered with For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), a global nonprofit dedicated to advancing STEM education. In the last seven years, Dematic has invested nearly $500,000 in local FIRST teams, events, and student scholarships. As part of this continued partnership, Dematic is awarding:

• Two $5,000 scholarships
• 10 $1,000 scholarships

THE APPLICATION:
Applications are open from April 10, 2026 to May 31, 2026 and can be submitted online. Students need to upload:

• A high school transcript for graduation verification or expected graduation date.
• A letter of recommendation from an adult mentor, FIRST team coach, teacher, or guidance counselor (recommended, not required).
• An essay (max. 1,000 words) addressing the following topic:
• REBUILT — Reimagining Solutions in Our Community
• The 2026 FIRST Robotics Competition theme, REBUILT, challenges students to look at what already exists and imagine how it could be repurposed, improved, or rebuilt to solve real problems. Engineering is not only about creating new machines; it is about understanding systems, resources, and people and using STEM to create meaningful change.
• Scholarship applicants are asked to identify a problem or challenge within their community. Community may be defined at any scale, including one's school, neighborhood, town, state, or even the nation. This problem should be something that needs to be fixed, improved, or redesigned rather than completely replaced.
• Applicant essays should explore how this challenge could be addressed by modernizing, rebuilding, or repurposing to extend the lifecycle of existing resources.

WHO:
To be considered for this scholarship, students must meet the following criteria:

• Participated in a FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) or a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC®) Team during high school.
• Applied or admitted to a postsecondary institution (including trade schools) as a full- or part-time student. Applicants do not need to be admitted at the time of application.
• Pursuing a post-secondary degree or certification at a North American academic institution. STEM degrees and certifications are preferred.
• Must not be a previous Dematic FIRST Scholarship winner as they are ineligible to win again.

Open to all undergraduate students for Fall 2026.

WHEN:
Applications will open for submission on April 10, 2026 and will close on May 31, 2026.