Farming and robotics students laud Olympia School Board for extracurricular activity support

In the middle of discussions for the reduced educational plan, several students attended the meeting on Thursday, April 13 to thank the Olympia School Board.

The students took their appreciation to the public comment section, saying the board has provided them with the necessary resources and opportunities, such as support for freedom farming, engineering, and outreach programs.

"It saved my life.”

Helen, a student, shared her experience withFreedom Farmers, “This is my second year being a Freedom Farmer. It not only saved my academic career, but it also saved my life.

“Thank you for supporting us,” Helen said.. “Supporting alternative programs like the farm is what will bring students back.”

She added how the program helped her with her mental health issues, and to do away with depression and suicidal thoughts.

Another student from the same program, Elisse, shared similar sentiments.

“I’ve been attending the farm program. Before attending, I went to a traditional school setting and [was] being quiet at a desk, barely able to connect with my peers. Barely a year in, I'm already seeing immense progress in my physical and mental health,” Elisse said, “I use some of that appreciation back by doing whatever I can to support it,” she added.

Freedom Farmers is the district’s initiative in utilizing its farm to let participating students engage in the production of fresh vegetables for cafeterias around the city while earning credits in some subjects.

Gateway to scholarships

A student from the Olympia Robotics Federation (ORF), Beta, emphasized how the support her team received from the board paved the way for national and international opportunities.

“I would like to personally thank you, the board, for providing me and countless others a program that shapes our lives. ORF earned a spot at the Pacific Northwest Championship in Cheney, Washington,” Beta said, and the team “won the engineering inspiration award for our outreach efforts. And we are now going to compete next week at an international level [in] Houston, Texas.”

Beta added that NASA also awarded them with a $5000 scholarship, and his brother from the same district-supported program is now graduating with a computer engineering degree.

“This program heavily supports the community. Investing in us is investing in our greater community,” Beta added.

Sanjay, a freshman student from the robotics program, thanked the board for their ‘generosity and commitment.’

“I want to thank you [for] providing additional support for us to attend regional competitions here, and in Texas, and showcase our skills on a larger stage. It may seem like a small detail, but trust me it has a huge impact on our team's ability to participate,” Sanjay said.

Martin, another student from the robotics program, said, “I would like to start out by expressing my gratitude for providing our Federation with transportation and laptops.”

“Your contributions have allowed us to pursue our passion for engineering, and innovation,” Rohan, another student from the robotics program, voiced his gratitude to the board.

Several of the commenters are supported by the district through ORF, which provided them with transportation, classroom space, digital cloud-based program, laptops, and printers.