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Student leaders highlight FIRST robotics' reach in Kentucky, seek support for a regional
Summary
Students from the Kentucky 1st Student Board of Directors told the Interim Joint Committee on Education about FIRST robotics' growth in Kentucky, cited team counts and scholarship figures, and invited legislators to a demo and a regional competition scheduled later in Room 113.
Students representing Kentucky 1st Robotics told the Interim Joint Committee on Education that the program reaches hundreds of students statewide and contributes to workforce preparedness.
"My name is Ella Zilberman, and I'm the president of the student board of directors," said Ella Zilberman, who described FIRST's pipeline from elementary programs through FTC and FRC. The students reported that Kentucky has 47 FTC teams and "over 500 participating students," and that the state hosts 12 FRC teams. The students asked lawmakers to attend a demonstration later in Room 113.
Vice president RJ Beidleman described how teams learn programming and machining, and noted that alumni have gone into manufacturing and aerospace careers. Students also cited scholarships and outcomes: presenters said FIRST provides about $2,000,000 in scholarships and that a 2025 FIRST annual report showed participating alumni earned an average of roughly $19,000 more than peers who did not participate.
Committee members praised the student presentation and encouraged legislators to meet teams at the later demo. Representative and chair remarks closed the segment and moved the agenda on to the next presentation.
