STUDENT RETENTION

Successful FIRST teams are not only able to recruit a strong body of students, but are also able to retain those students year after year. This is difficult, however, when veteran students graduate at the end of each season and new students may realize that their passion does not lie with FIRST.

So how do we do it?

Simple: make students feel important.

When a student feels that they are important to an organization, they feel inspired to be active and involved. Teams must make sure that their students, both veteran and rookies, feel that they are crucial to the fabric of the team by (1) engaging students in team discussion, (2) asking for ideas, input, and feedback, (3) delegating responsibilities, and (4) fostering leadership opportunities for all students.

"Through FIRST, I have been able to build friendships that I am sure will last my entire life."
KATRINA WONG, Midnight Mechanic

Katrina Wong (right) entered the magical world of the Midnight Mechanics as a freshmen in high school. She began her FIRST career as a member of the Community Partnerships department, organizing and facilitating community events. At the Los Angeles Regional, her first regional, she was excited to meet students, like Monica Fernandez (left), who were just as crazy about FIRST as she was. Today, although Monica is off at Purdue University, she still maintains contact with her fellow Midnight Mechanic.

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