U.S. Governors Cup: Inspiring America’s Youth in STEM

will.i.am joined FIRST Robotics youth from all 50 states in Washington, D.C. for the U.S. Governors Cup, a national competition to showcase student ingenuity and readiness for the future.

This inaugural event took place on February 20-21, 2026 at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. in parallel with the National Governors Association Meeting, uniting all 50 states in an exciting bracket–style tournament.

The event showcased design thinking, technology, and teamwork as key indicators of student achievement and workforce readiness, and reinforced a bipartisan, state-led approach to scaling hands-on STEM across the country.

Fifty teams from each of the fifty states competed using the FIRST Tech Challenge robotics platform. Each team represented their home state in the contest, symbolizing the vital role of state leadership in advancing STEM education at the local level.

“This model of investing in homegrown talent through education, inspiration, and real opportunities is proving what’s possible, and it’s one that every governor across the United States needs to follow to build a brighter, more innovative future for all our youth,” said i.am Angel Foundation founder and president will.i.am, who met with students and government leaders throughout the 2-day event.

On the last day of competition, will.i.am surprised the students with a special DJ performance, turning up the energy to new heights before the final matches.

We look forward to many future U.S. Governors Cup events to come, and celebrating robotics students on this national stage every year.

Photos courtesy of FIRST U.S. Governors Cup