The Student Association for STEM Advocacy (SASA) is hosting their Michigan Advocacy Conference on October 30th: students statewide will work to lobby legislators to promote the Michigan Competitive Robotics (99H) Grant. This year, for the first time, the Woodhaven robotics team will have a seat at the table.
The team (Goon Squad) is sending 2 representatives: Broderick Justian and Samantha Manning. Together with teams spanning across the state, over 75 attendees will meet with officials across the aisle.
The legislation on the table is the Michigan Competitive Robotics Grant (99H). This grant provides millions of dollars of state funding to thousands of robotics teams across multiple programs. The 99H Grant has allowed Michigan to become a powerhouse for competitive early STEM readiness programs, including FIRST Robotics.
K-12 educational opportunities like these have proven benefits: enhanced problem-solving skills, ability to work in teams, and merit in math and technology fields. Activities like MAC are proven effective by the impression left on statewide education: the 99H Grant has grown to become a multi-million dollar investment in STEM that sets students up for enriching careers and educations.
MAC has inspired STEM advocacy nationwide. SASA advocacy conferences have run in Arizona, New York, New Jersey, and even in Washington D.C., where students nationally advocate for country-wide STEM investments. In the past, students across the United States have advocated for the CHIPS Act, which created new tech jobs and brand new microchip facilities. The efforts led by SASA and other teams make a tangible difference nationally.
The Michigan Advocacy Conference will take place in Lansing. As one of the newly attending teams, our attendees will learn how to approach elected officials with specific legislative asks. The goal? To apply these newfound skills across Southeast Michigan to spark change that benefits thousands of aspiring STEM professionals.
