[Joe Matt]

To simply put, no.

To complexly put, when you add money, you add corruption and greed. FIRST was never, and will never be, all about getting trophies or money. As stressed earlier, FIRST has always been about the learning experience involved, never about some piece of plastic or metal.

The money that gets payed into the kit and into signing up for other events isn't done to get into a competition, it's done to get the tools and assets to teach kids to be critical thinkers, have mentors work and spread their knowledge, and foster an environment of genuine success and feelings of accomplishment