Texas Testimoney Public / Higher Education

[Andrew Schuetze]

Mentors and students from the Toltechs, FRC 499 gave testimony today at the San Antonio hearing of the Select Committee for Public and Higher Education Finance.
http://www.house.state.tx.us/committees/295.htm

For those not familiar with Texas politics, our legislature only mets every other year as we just don't trust 'em So these hearings are a means of gathering public and stake holder input prior to the short legislative session next year, January - May.

We brought to the podium with us a 5th grade young lady from one of the schools we mentor. We made the case that robotics is encouraging students to pursue careers in science and engineering. The two girl tandem really impressed the elected officials and all became aware of efforts across the state to use robotics in education. They have one more hearing left. It is in the FIRST backyard of Houston, Texas. So get in touch with your reps and see if you can get on the agenda or if nothing else show up and attempt to get on the public comment portion.

COMMITTEE:Higher & Public Education Finance, Select
TIME & DATE:10:00 AM, Friday, May 16, 2008
See Below
CHAIR:Rep. Dan Branch
The Select Committee will meet at the
University of Houston Hilton Hotel
4800 Calhoun Road, HOUSTON, TX 77204.
Public and invited testimony will be taken on all matters pertaining to the coordination of public and higher education funding with a focus on dropout prevention, non-traditional students, and urban challenges.

Our invitation came from work in the build season and actually goes back to the pre-season when we invited our area officials to visit the team in the shop after meeting several of them last April in the capitol building during the Educational Robo Expo. One staffer who attended got in contact with a fellow staffer for the committee chairman and then ...