Dematic FIRST Scholarship Recipients

Dematic, a global leader in supply chain automation, announced the recipients of its 2026 Dematic FIRST® Scholarship program following National STEM Day on Nov. 8.

Ewan Arlen and Andrew Smith were each recognized with $5,000 awards, while 10 additional students received $1,000 scholarships: Parsa Allahbakhsh, Hannah Chintersingh, Alec Dethloff, Neil Haselton, Phanikrishna Jandhyala, Mahendran (Mahi) Madhan Kumar, Damian Ramos-Gomez, Mehaan Sibal, Srijan Singh and Radmehr Tehranipoor.

National STEM Day is an annual celebration designed to inspire interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Through its scholarship program, Dematic is advancing that mission by supporting students pursuing careers in STEM-related fields. The program aligns with the mission of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring young people to become science and technology leaders.

Since the partnership began in 2008, Dematic has sponsored teams participating in FIRST robotics competitions and invested nearly $500,000 in local teams, events and student scholarships.

“Since 2008, we’ve been proud to partner with FIRST to help students pursue their passion for STEM,” said Mike Larsson, president, Dematic and KION executive board member. “Our recent $150,000 donation to FIRST, along with scholarships and team support, reflects our commitment to investing in students. We’re inspired by their creativity and determination and proud to support this year’s recipients as they take the next step in their education.”

Now in its sixth year, the Dematic FIRST Scholarship program saw record-breaking interest from aspiring STEM students, with applications from 23 states and three countries, accounting for a 109% increase from 2025. A panel of Dematic leaders selected recipients based on academic achievement, creativity and a commitment to advancing the future of science and technology. As part of the application process, students were challenged to propose solutions to issues facing their communities, showcasing how their STEM skills can be applied to real-world problems. To be eligible, applicants must have previously participated in a FIRST Robotics Competition or FIRST Tech Challenge.

“Receiving the Dematic FIRST Scholarship is an incredible honor and a meaningful recognition of my journey in STEM,” Allahbakhsh said. “My experience in FIRST Robotics strengthened my passion for engineering, teamwork and innovation, and this support motivates me to continue pursuing my goals in chemical engineering at UC Berkeley. I am truly grateful to Dematic for investing in my future.”

The latest Dematic FIRST® Scholarship recipients.

Dematic is dedicated to supporting FIRST and its mission to engage youth to become skilled professionals, creative thinkers and well-rounded citizens. Dematic employees actively contribute to FIRST teams by providing mentorship and guidance throughout the year. In 2026, Dematic sponsored 21 local FIRST teams and invested $82,000 in team grants and programs to support students as they prepared for competitions and careers in STEM.

Since the partnership began in 2008, Dematic has sponsored teams participating in FIRST robotics competitions and invested nearly $500,000 in local teams, events and student scholarships.