Professionals and community leaders helping a student-led organization turn ambitious ideas into sustainable programs.
Guidance that matters
Our six mentors and advisors have helped FIRST For Youth build school relationships, manage resources, communicate its mission, and create robotics opportunities across the community. Their guidance gives student leaders the confidence and practical knowledge to move the work forward.
As coach of the Fairfax High School Roarbotics team, Mr. Manchanda helped FIRST For Youth strengthen its time-management practices across outreach events and camps. He also supported budget management and helped the team communicate its goals and mission to sponsors.
A FIRST alumnus and volunteer, Rithik helped introduce FIRST For Youth to more STEM advocates across Fairfax County. Drawing on his business studies at Virginia Tech, he shared marketing fundamentals and helped the organization develop business cards, brochures, and flyers that communicate its mission.
A former Fairfax City councilmember, Sang Yi helped connect FIRST For Youth with the four schools in Fairfax City and supported the organization’s team-funding mission. Those relationships helped the organization establish robotics teams at three of the four schools.
As Fairfax High School’s Director of Student Activities, Ms. Melnick helped launch the school’s FIRST Tech Challenge team by promoting the organization and connecting it with necessary resources. She also helped secure space at Fairfax High School outreach events so the team could share its mission with more students and families.
A California DECA alumna and UC Berkeley business student, Ankita guided the team in promoting its mission and organizing its finances. Her support helped FIRST For Youth build a budget that tracks fundraising and the resources required by each school, making it easier to coordinate funding with Fair Lakes Youth Association when schools need support.
As Communications Director for Fairfax City, Carrie Dorsey helped FIRST For Youth stay connected with the city’s four schools. After learning about the organization’s journey and mission, she shared its work through a Fairfax City Schools story.
Read the Fairfax City Schools story