Wilson‑Zegil’s robotics outreach has already touched six elementary schools and 1,200 campers, a milestone that caught the eye of Children First Canada.
Growing up on Manitoulin Island, she witnessed how a child’s zip code can dictate access to science. The island’s limited tech labs and high travel costs kept many students out of robotics, a gap she set out to bridge.
To counter this, she offers free and pay‑what‑you‑can camps, ensuring families who cannot afford standard fees still receive hands‑on experience. The initiative also earned her the Together We Rise Award for Equitable Education and Opportunities at Children First Canada’s Future is NOW! Awards in Toronto.
Project RISE, short for Rural Initiative for STEM Equity, is the next phase. It will broaden the scope beyond her own outreach, providing mentorship, coaching, and a year of support to schools across rural Ontario.
Under the program, Wilson‑Zegil will secure $1,000 funding per student and expand the robotics curriculum to include coding, engineering design, and maker‑space workshops.
The initiative is slated to roll out new camps in the upcoming school year, targeting 2,500 students by 2027.