Sixteen members of the Ferradermis robotics team participated in the 4th annual Robotics Advocacy Day at the State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin, on February 12, 2024. This event brought together over 300 middle school and high school students from across the state along with their mentors to advocate for continued funding for STEM education, specifically focusing on robotics programs.
The day commenced at Monona Terrace, where students received valuable lessons on navigating state government and effectively communicating with legislators. Representative Brienne Brown, a parent of robotics team members and a state legislator, addressed the attendees. She urged students to seize the opportunity to influence policy and make a difference in their communities.
Ferradermis members participating included Mily Zeferino-Hernandez, Cooper Housel, Alex Nelson, Sam Raupp, Rae Breisath, Asher Downs, Zoey Ambrose, Nina Heim, Alex Fletcher, Mason Genung, Owen Taylor, Elora Wildermuth-Breitzman, ChaCha Binagi, Erison Dreksler, and Julian Rennells. Charlotte Trautman was also part of the team but was not present for the group photo.
The Wisconsin robotics league participation grant is a key mechanism for promoting STEM education. Each year, robotics teams advocate for the importance of sustaining and potentially increasing this funding. This year, the focus was on lowering the age eligibility for the grant, which is currently limited to students in grades 6-12, to include elementary school teams.
After a series of informative sessions, participants moved to the Capitol building for the day’s main events. Robot demonstrations took place in the rotunda, showcasing the students’ hard work and innovation. Ferradermis members arranged meetings with seven different legislators and their staff, splitting into groups to ensure they could cover a comprehensive schedule.
The team’s first meeting was with Senator Melissa Ratcliff, alongside FTC Team 10100 Phoenix Force from Verona. Following this, they met with Representative Brienne Brown again, discussing upcoming changes to FIRST Lego League and reiterating the need to extend the Robotics League Participation Grant to younger students.
Ferradermis also met with staff from Representative Ann Roe‘s office in collaboration with FTC 21355 Turtle TEK from Beloit. Due to the Assembly being in session, many meetings were held with staffers rather than the legislators themselves. This included a discussion with Katherine Morgan, a staffer for Representative Joan Fitzgerald, and another with a staff member for Senator Mark Spreitzer.
The advocacy efforts were well received. Staffer Cameron O’Connell from Representative Tyler August’s office took the time to learn about the FIRST Robotics program, reflecting the genuine interest in fostering STEM education.
The final meeting of the day involved discussions with staff from Senator Steve Nass‘s office. Overall, the day served as a significant platform for Ferradermis members to voice their support for robotics funding and advocate for a broader inclusion of younger students in these vital programs.
The commitment shown by the Ferradermis team exemplifies the growing recognition of the importance of STEM education and the ongoing efforts to ensure that future generations have access to these opportunities.
