FIRST Tech Challenge - 2025-2026 DECODE Kickoffs in North Texas

[Lcherryholmes]

Welcome to the FIRST® Tech Challenge 2025-2026 DECODE™ season, part of the FIRST AGE™ presented by Qualcomm.

<TL;DR> Let us know where your team will be for the game reveal and kickoff.

The WESTSIDE kickoff in Aledo is smaller and workshop-focused. The EASTSIDE kickoff at Marcus HS is a much larger gathering.

My name is Lon Cherryholmes, and I am returning for my fifth year as the FIRST Tech Challenge Program Delivery Partner for North Texas. I serve under the leadership of Mrs. Emily DeMille and Dr. Patrick Michaud, supported by an amazing committee of individuals who could each, in their own right, be a regional director. With the help of dozens of key volunteers and event hosts across the metroplex, we don’t just hope for an amazing season—we expect it.

As FIRST has communicated extensively, our game reveal and kickoff for the DECODE season will be on Saturday, September 6th, 2025. We will have two official kickoff locations in the metroplex. Both will feature official fields built to spec and general season information, but each has its own, unique character:

 à EASTSIDE – Marcus HS

• Large event with nearly half a thousand attendees (and is even larger than our Regional Championship).
• High energy and excitement, but can feel quite crowded.
• Facilitated by our Program Director, Dr. Patrick Michaud, and the Marcus Robotics Institute director, Casey McCluskey.

ß WESTSIDE – Aledo HS

• Smaller, more intimate event focused on networking and relationship-building.
• Features mini workshops delivered by the four Aledo HS FIRST Tech Challenge teams.
• Facilitated by Lon Cherryholmes and our one and only Regional Head Referee, Erika Diggs.
• Hosted by the Aledo High School Booster Club and our A-League Commissioner, Julie Reynolds.

Both are excellent options. If your team is geographically able to choose between them, please heavily consider attending WESTSIDE (Aledo) to help alleviate crowding at the other.

Action Requested: Please let us know where your team will be at the kickoff on September 6th, 2025. Fill out this form once per team. Please fill it out even if you plan to hold your own internal kickoff at school/community center and/or are just watching the official FIRST YouTube stream from home. This survey helps serve as a useful role-call of all returning teams in North Texas, and it helps us plan for how many teams are coming to our two kickoffs.

Alternative link: tiny.cc/ntxftc-kickoff-2025

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Lon T. Cherryholmes
North Texas FIRST ^® Tech Challenge
Program Delivery Coordinator