United States congressional representatives Grace Meng (D-Queens), Nydia Velázquez (D-Brooklyn / Manhattan / Queens) and Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn) on Thursday, July 20 met with and congratulated female students from Afghanistan who overcame overwhelming obstacles to win a silver medal at Tuesday’s international robotics competition in Washington, D.C.
The six students, who were initially denied visas to enter the United States, are between the ages of 14 to 16, said Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn.
They won the medal for “courageous achievement” at the FIRST Global Challenge, a competition that consists of teams of teenagers who represent more than 150 nations, Clarke said.
She said the contest, in which students showcase robots they built, also seeks to ignite a passion among youth for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
