Omaha, Neb. – A growing robotics program is giving local youth a hands‑on look at the automation jobs that are reshaping the economy. Twenty‑one teams of students, ranging from 10 to 18 years old, gathered for a scrimmage that serves as a rehearsal before the state championship.
Building robots, building futures
Program delivery partner Randy Veach, who works with Nebraska FIRST Tech Challenge, warned that the talent pipeline is thin. “I think the numbers right now are every 100 jobs in automation and robotics, we’re only filling 30 of them,” Veach said. He stressed that the demand for skilled workers will only increase as machines continue to produce everything from clothing to food.
Encouraging girls and minorities
For Black girls, exposure to robotics can be especially vital. “Black women only represent between one and three percent in the tech industry,” said Tiffany Gamble, executive director of Emerging Ladies Academy. “The future is now, and I want to prepare the girls for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, for workforce development, and make sure they’re ready for their future.”
Gamble added that many young women are unaware of career paths beyond traditional service jobs. By showing them how creativity, intellect, and problem‑solving can thrive in tech, the program hopes to broaden their horizons.
Student voices
Pearl Dayton‑Kellogg, who aspires to become an aeronautical engineer, said the experience has been transformative. “I like the team. I like building stuff together with my sisters. I like getting to know new people,” she explained. When asked for advice to newcomers, she urged perseverance: “Don’t give up. It can be hard, but you can still make it.”
Dayton‑Kellogg also noted a positive trend in female participation. “I feel amazing. There’s more girls than there were last year,” she said, highlighting the program’s growing appeal to young women.
Why the push matters
Organizers argue that getting kids involved now is essential to meeting Nebraska’s future workforce needs. “Everything that we have is built and processed by machines. Our clothes, our food. It is the demand in Nebraska. We need more kids doing this,” Veach emphasized.
Emerging Ladies Academy continues to welcome interested young women. For more information, families can visit the academy’s website.
Community impact
The robotics scrimmage not only showcases student ingenuity but also signals a community commitment to preparing the next generation for high‑tech careers. By fostering early exposure, Omaha hopes to retain talent, support local industry, and ensure families have access to well‑paid, stable jobs in the years ahead.
Original reporting: KMTV 3 News Now (Scripps) – local — read the source article.
