They made a special request.
Members of Searcy High School’s robotics team, The Goonies, visited the Arkansas State Capitol on March 17, 2025. They testified before the Senate Education Committee in support of Senate Bill 391, which aims to create a statewide grant program for competitive robotics.
Searcy Students Visit State Capitol For Legislation
Students Nicholas Carlton, Ash Williams, Jensen Johnston, and Lillian Ruiz, alongside coach Trevor McGarrah, explained how the bill’s matching grant program would broaden robotics access. The program would be managed by the Arkansas Department of Education.
Sponsored by Senator Jonathan Dismang and Representative Les Eaves, SB391 also received backing from Harding Academy’s Team Breakaway, who helped develop it. The Senate Education Committee unanimously approved the bill, sending it to the full Senate.
Senator Dismang is confident in the bill’s passage, supported by Representative Eaves and the Arkansas Department of Education. If it clears the Senate and House, it could become law by April.
The event gave Searcy students a front-row seat to democracy in action. They proudly represented their school while pushing for STEM opportunities statewide, earning praise from Searcy Public Schools.
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