Get to Know the 2022 Student DEI Advisory Committee Members!
Name: Kiri Nakagawa
Pronouns: she/they
School: Sammamish High School
Grade: 12
Team: 2412, the Robototes
Why does inclusion matter to you?
Inclusivity is such an important aspect within any FIRST team. It allows for growth, support, and a stronger sense of community. Including others allows for a broader range of ideas and can open up so many new possibilities. Remember to have fun, be GP, and keep inclusivity in mind during this build season!
Name: Aakarsh Agrawal
Pronouns: He/Him
School: Eastlake High School
Grade: 10
Team: Team 1294, Pack of Parts (previously Top Gun)
Why does inclusion matter to you?
Inclusion is something I value very critically especially since the world is developing into a more and more interconnected place with the internet, Zoom, and advancing technologies. As a result, it is INCREDIBLY important for me to learn and be respectful about other’s cultures, identities, beliefs and other markers. The only way for this to happen is if inclusivity is a top priority. Part of being an inclusive community is also important to me since many of my friends are from minority communities and some of the most brilliant people I know are from minority communities. For this reason, I highly value inclusion.
Name: Jared Goodman
Pronouns: He/Him
School: The Overlake School
Grade: Senior
Team: 7461 Sushi Squad
Why does inclusion matter to you?
Robotics and STEM are some of my biggest passions. As I try to recruit freshmen for Sushi Squad, a response I hear a lot is “I’m not a robotics person.” I believe that enthusiasm is the only characteristic needed to be “good” at robotics, and so it bugs me that a lot of people feel like they wouldn’t feel included on FIRST. I think there’s a lot of talent wasted if inclusion isn’t prioritized for robotics.
Name: Juli Malit
Pronouns: she/her
School: Liberty High School
Grade: 12
Team: FRC 4131
Why does inclusion matter to you?
The impacts of our identities do not stop at robotics, and inclusion is a vital part of each of our lives, within and outside of FIRST. Accessibility to STEM varies for many students, and the field is in need of more safe spaces for many. As a woman of color, I know this well. But at the heart of my love for STEM is my need to create a nurturing and sustainable community for others, as my own robotics team has done for me. Everyone deserves to fall in love with engineering in the way I have. It boils down to this: inclusion makes for a better team, because a 100-pound robot is not completed by one individual, and the best ideas are found together.
In this new year, is it a goal of yours to be able to give back to your community? Do you have a passion for helping people? And do you just happen to enjoy working with numbers? If so, we have a perfect opportunity for you!
FIRST Washington is actively looking for a volunteer to donate 10-hours a week.
Through email, you would be providing financial support and customer service to our community.
If you are comfortable operating remotely and have a desire to work with one of the leading providers of STEM education in Washington state, we would love to hear from you!
A long-time supporter of FIRST Washington, Alaska Airlines has been a stalwart supporter as well as volunteer pipeline to our organization. Working closely with community partners, the Alaska Airlines Foundation focuses on programs, partnerships and initiatives that inspire, empower, mentor, engage and equip young people to connect to career opportunities and to imagine what’s possible.
WE’VE MOVED!
We are so excited to announce that FIRST Washington has a new warehouse in Kent.
