We were lucky to catch up with Team 17062: Techalongs recently and have shared our conversation below.
Team 17062:, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
We are proud to be the only all-girls robotics team in the state. When we first formed, our members were all in middle school, and in a room full of high school boys, we initially tried to downplay our identity. As we have grown—both as individuals and as a team—we have made the conscious decision to embrace who we are as young women in STEM. We have taken an active role in advocating not only for girls in FIRST Robotics, but for the broader representation of women in STEM fields.
As part of that mission, we became ambassadors for FIRST Like a Girl on Instagram—an initiative to promote female representation in robotics. Through our platform, we highlight the contributions of women in STEM by sharing both the often-overlooked stories of trailblazers from the past and the achievements of women making an impact today. In addition, we joined the m.e.FIRST Ambassador program, working to advance menstrual equity by providing free menstrual products at every competition we attend.
Our advocacy is inspired by trailblazers like Dr. Rosalind Franklin, whose X-ray diffraction work was pivotal in discovering the DNA double helix, and Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space. Their legacies are honored at the FTC World Championship, where divisions are named after them—Franklin and Jemison—serving as a reminder of the profound impact women have made and continue to make in STEM fields.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
At our first competition of the 2024–2025 season, we were honored to receive the Inspire Award—recognizing not just our technical performance, but our dedication to outreach and advocacy. That award earned us a bid to the state championship, where we were named the state Inspire Award recipients, securing our place at the FTC World Championship in April. In just three years, we have grown from a timid middle school team of girls into a state-champion team competing on the global stage. Our journey reflects not only our growth in engineering and programming but our evolution into leaders and advocates for women in STEM.
As we head into our fourth season, we are excited to expand our outreach and continue growing as a team. This summer, we launched our first girls-only robotics camp to help inspire and empower the next generation of female engineers. We also had the opportunity to exhibit at Phoenix Fan Fusion, engaging with a broader community and sparking interest in STEM.
Looking ahead to the new season, we will be hosting a “Women Professionals in STEM” panel at the Arizona FTC Kickoff in September—modeled after a powerful presentation at Worlds led by the FIRST Like a Girl organizers. We are thrilled to be partnering with women professionals from Honeywell, Boeing, and Women Techmakers to host an important—and we hope inspiring—discussion on the role of women in STEM careers. This collaboration represents a meaningful step in connecting young women with real-world role models and highlighting the diverse pathways available in science and technology careers.
Throughout the year, we will also continue attending community events and leading workshops on engineering and robotics for girls in our community, with the goal of not only inspiring excitement about STEM but also expanding our team.
We are also excited to build on the foundation we have established by strengthening our technical skills throughout the robot build process. This season, we aim to take our engineering to the next level—potentially manufacturing custom parts and enhancing our robot’s performance through more advanced coding and refined control systems.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
For this team, perseverance is our most important quality alongside risk-taking and enthusiasm. These three qualities have allowed us to succeed in a male-dominated space.
Our advice to other girls who may be interested in pursuing FIRST robotics is “just do it”—even if you don’t know everything or even anything. FIRST is about learning by doing, and you don’t need to have a background in coding or engineering to get started. Surround yourself with people who support your growth, ask questions fearlessly, and don’t be afraid to take up space in a room that wasn’t necessarily designed with you in mind. Your perspective matters.
Find mentors—especially women in STEM—who can inspire you and show you what is possible. Look for opportunities to lead, whether it’s building the robot, presenting to judges, or organizing outreach events. Every role is valuable, and leadership comes in many forms.
Lastly, know that your presence in FIRST Robotics isn’t just about you—it’s part of a much larger movement to make STEM more inclusive. Every time you show up, speak up, and build something, you are paving the way for other girls to do the same. So be bold, stay curious, and believe in the power of what you and your team can create.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
Our greatest ongoing challenge remains securing adequate funding. Girls’ STEM programs often receive less financial support compared to those for boys. Women constitute only 28% of the STEM workforce in the United States, with even lower representation in fields like computer science and engineering. This underrepresentation can contribute to fewer funding opportunities and resources for girls’ STEM initiatives.
As a community-based team without the backing of a school or host organization, we operate without direct access to dedicated space, coaching support, or institutional resources. Despite these obstacles, we remain committed to our mission and continue to actively seek sponsors, mentors, and partnerships that can help sustain and grow our program.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.techalongs.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ftc_techalongs/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ftctechalongs
Image Credits
Diana Laulainen-Schein
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