Countdown To The 2020 FIRST National Advocacy Conference
Event Dates: 6/21/20 – 6/23/20 | Location: Washington, DC
Click here to view or download the FIRST NAC Brochure
About the Conference: To change culture to value STEM, we must get our policy makers in our nation's capitol on board with knowing about and supporting FIRST and STEM in education. If we are not there telling them about our experiences, no one else is! This is a conference consisting of training to prepare students and mentors for meetings with their Senators and Members of Congress in their offices on Capitol Hill. We will train you in the Do's and Don'ts of these meetings and give you time to practice and organize talking points so you are ready for the meeting. We will also help you navigate around Capitol Hill and be available to help if you need it. If this is your first year in D.C. or first time meeting with your Senators or Members of Congress, we will focus on
relationship building.
If you've already formed a meaningful relationships, you will be focusing on advocating for FIRST and STEM initiatives. You will have the chance to ask your school if there are any local issues they would like you to bring forward as well. Students will gain a tremendous amount of self-confidence as they learn, prepare, and lead meetings with Senators and Members of Congress. Students and Mentors alike are typically enlightened with how their government works which can lead to taking a stronger interest in advocacy in the future.
Are You Interested in Attending NAC 2020?
Please fill out the interest form by clicking here!
Questions, more information, and registration:
Email staff@firstnac.org
Register Early and You Just Might Win a Gift Certificate
REGISTER BY APRIL 1st, 2020 and your team will be entered to win one of four $100 gift certificates to AndyMark and will receive a game piece signed by Dean Kamen. Each participant will also receive a tote bag and t-shirt. FRC & FTC teams and individuals are welcome. Questions, more information, and registration: http://firstnac.org or email staff@firstnac.org.
Student Impact
"The 2019 FIRST National Advocacy Conference was an incredible experience. Personally, I was given opportunities that wouldn't be available to me anywhere else. I was able to present in front of over 280 people and even take part in a meeting with Secretary of Education Betsy Davos. NAC not only brings out the best in every student but also pushes students to preform in real-world situations with our nation's legislature. Fro example, one of our team members were nervous about presenting to members of the Congress, however by the end of the conference, he had gained the confidence and presentation skills needed to help him in the future."
- Tenzing Wiandt - FRC 1816 (The Green Machine)
"The National Advocacy Conference has been a life changing event that has truly helped to shape me as a presenter and a public speaker. Although I am a member of the Pi-oneer's presentation team, I get severe anxiety before speaking publicly, whether that be in a class at school or a formal presentation. NAC was a stepping stone in helping me become more comfortable as a presenter and as a speaker in general. I am now more confident when presenting and I have found ways to work past my presentation anxiety thanks to the opportunity that NAC has provided me."
- Hannah Epstein - FRC 1676 (Pascack Pi-oneers)