FIRST Core Values
The FIRST Core Values emphasize friendly sportsmanship, respect for the contributions of others, teamwork, learning, and community involvement and are part of our commitment to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion. The FIRST® Community expresses the FIRST® philosophies of Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition through our Core Values:
- Discovery: We explore new skills and ideas.
- Innovation: We use creativity and persistence to solve problems.
- Impact: We apply what we learn to improve our world.
- Inclusion: We respect each other and embrace our differences.
- Teamwork: We are stronger when we work together.
- Fun: We enjoy and celebrate what we do!
Gracious Professionalism®
Gracious Professionalism is part of the ethos of FIRST. It’s a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community.
Through Gracious Professionalism, intense competition and mutual gain coexist. Participants treat each other with respect and empathy. Knowledge, competition, and empathy are naturally blended.
Coopertition®
Coopertition produces innovation by promoting unqualified kindness and respect in the face of intense competition.
Coopertition means that teams can and should help and cooperate with each other, even as they compete.
Coopertition involves learning from and teaching teammates. It is learning from mentors, managing and being managed.
Coopertition embodies the spirit of competing while assisting and enabling others whenever possible.