At Rosemary Clarke Middle School (RCMS), the LEGO Robotics Club is doing much more than building robots—it’s shaping futures, sparking creativity, and fostering teamwork among its members. Advisor Renee Marsh has been guiding the club for three years, helping students develop critical STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills while preparing them for exciting competitions.
The club operates under the framework of the FIRST® LEGO® League, a global robotics program that introduces students to STEM through hands-on learning. “The mission of FIRST LEGO League is to provide young people with robotics programs that help them develop the skills, confidence, and resilience to build a better world,” said Marsh. Through the program, students tackle real-world problems, design and program robots for autonomous challenges, and compete against other teams while upholding values like “gracious professionalism” and “coopertition,” which emphasize respect and collaboration. The emphasis on hands-on learning allows students to not only learn STEM basics but also practice critical thinking, teamwork, and communication.
This year, the RCMS LEGO Robotics Club achieved a significant milestone, advancing from the Southern Nevada Qualifiers for the first time. The team placed in the top 18% of all teams in the region and earned the Engineering Excellence Award for their innovative designs and teamwork. Competing against dozens of other schools, the RCMS team demonstrated their skills in robot performance, research presentations, and team collaboration.
Team members Tyler Weaver, Makayla Tallent, Max Voegele, Ethan Marsh, Ethen Bolling, Brenna Voegele, Joseph Morrow, and Nevaeh Cartin contributed to the club’s success. Their journey included coding robots to complete missions, designing innovative solutions to clean the ocean, and presenting their ideas to judges. “Our innovation project focused on cleaning the Pacific Garbage Patch,” explained eighth-grader Tyler Weaver. “We designed a trawler system to skim the surface of the ocean and combined it with other ideas to create a long-term, efficient solution.”
The innovation project allowed students to think creatively and propose ideas without constraints like cost, encouraging them to envision practical solutions for pressing environmental challenges. Eighth-grader Ethan Marsh noted, “We combined different concepts into one major project that could work faster and more efficiently. It felt great to collaborate and refine our ideas.”
The students also excelled in the robotics portion of the competition. Using their custom-built robot, they programmed it to autonomously complete specific tasks during timed challenges. Each component, from the robot’s base design to its specialized attachments, was crafted by the students themselves. “The coders would tell us what kind of attachments they needed for the robot, and we’d build it. It was rewarding to see our ideas come to life and work,” the students shared.
Marsh emphasizes that the students lead every aspect of the club’s projects. “The students build the robot, code it for missions, and research solutions for real-world problems. I’m just here to keep them on track and facilitate team building,” she said. This hands-off approach has empowered students to take ownership of their work and has given them a sense of pride in their accomplishments. The results speak for themselves, with RCMS consistently earning high marks in teamwork, design, and innovation.
Beyond STEM, the club has had a profound impact on the students’ personal growth. “One of the best takeaways is the development of lasting friendships,” said Marsh. “I’ve seen students mentor each other, improve communication skills, and learn how to respectfully collaborate as a team. These are life skills they’ll carry with them.” The club provides an inclusive environment where students who might not be interested in athletics can still feel part of a team working toward a common goal. Many club members have gone on to join high school robotics programs, continuing to build on the foundation they gained at RCMS.
Marsh also hopes to see more local elementary schools introduce STEM classes using LEGO Spike Prime robots, which would better prepare students for the middle school program. Although the club currently benefits from a five-year grant from Tesla, Marsh is already thinking about sustainability beyond the grant period. “Funding registration and supply costs could be a challenge in the future, but I’m optimistic we’ll find a way to continue,” she said.
For these young innovators, the journey in STEM is just beginning. Their work serves as an inspiration not only for the RCMS community but also for the larger Pahrump area, showcasing the power of teamwork, creativity, and determination. The LEGO Robotics Club is more than just a club; it’s a launchpad for future engineers, problem-solvers, and leaders.
*A special thank you to Renee Marsh for the photos.
