kets. They’ re active in their communities.”
The growth numbers reflect that success. This season, Vermont will host 114 teams across all three levels, including 75 FLL teams, 25 FTC teams, and 14 FRC teams, with more than 1,000 student participants. Looking ahead, both Chase and Drapa emphasize the continued importance of STEM youth programs in Vermont, especially in terms of workforce retention.“ We know that 95 % of our STEM-oriented high school seniors are leaving Vermont and they’ re not coming back,” says Chase.“ We want that workforce to come back. We want them to know they have a chance at high-paying STEM jobs here in Vermont, and that they can enjoy great quality of life.” He cites an example of a former student who left Vermont to find work in a high-powered STEM field, but returned to Vermont to join Burlington-based aerospace manufacturer, BETA Technologies, because of quality-of-life priorities.
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For Drapa, the impact of FIRST in Vermont is equal-parts cultural and economic.“ I’ ve seen this program be transformational for our communities. It opens up a different way of thinking. When students fail 99 times in a row and succeed once, they talk about their success. They don’ t talk about the 99 failures that got them there. The perseverance is unlike anything I’ ve ever seen.” The way he sees it, the outcomes are clear:“ This is the only sport that leads directly to employment pathways – even if people don’ t choose to go to college. We have highly skilled technical jobs that FIRST students can walk directly into, head and shoulders above other applicants, because of what they’ ve learned through the program.” The work done by FIRST in Vermont is not just about preparing participants for tournaments or competition – nor is it only about fun and engaging kickoff events like the annual GlobalFoundries FLL State Champtionship or the FTC kickoff event at Manchester Community Library. At the heart of the program, FIRST builds bridges between Vermont’ s young minds and its future. n manchester manchester life magazine life holiday magazine / winter 2023 2025 61 61