Holiday Message from Executive Chairman, Eric J. van Gemeren

To the FIRST in Texas community,

As you make final preparations for your holiday celebrations and as 2025 draws to a close, I wanted to take a moment to offer my sincere thanks to each and every one of you who makes FIRST in Texas what it is today. It is only through your commitment to our shared mission and purpose that we are able to make such a positive impact on more than 23,000 students across Texas and New Mexico!

This year will no doubt be remembered as one of change and resilience in the history of FIRST in Texas. We faced many changes and challenges, some easier than others. Yet I truly believe that when we look back on this period in the years to come, it will be seen as a positive inflection point in our growth. This was a moment when we reimagined how we operate to better serve our community, re-engaged with the more than 7,000 volunteers who make our work possible, and expanded opportunities for even more young people across Texas and New Mexico to discover and prepare for fulfilling STEM careers.

Through all of this change, there has been one constant we can always count on at FIRST in Texas: YOU. Together, our community has met challenges head-on, celebrated successes with both enthusiasm and humility, and continued to work hard to do better. You have never lost sight of the ultimate goal of using FIRST robotics as a powerful tool to uplift and inspire underserved youth. You are truly the heart of our success, and for that, I am deeply grateful.

I wish you and your loved ones a joyful and restful holiday season, filled with well-deserved time to recharge. We still have several exciting months ahead in our season!

Thank you again for all that you do. I wish you a happy holiday season and a Happy New Year.

Eric J. van Gemeren
Executive Chairman
FIRST in Texas