CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a world where robotics is playing an increasingly vital role in shaping the future, two Charlotte high school juniors are already ahead of the curve.

What You Need To Know

  • Two high school juniors in Charlotte are on a mission to introduce underserved students to the world of robotics

  • They raise money through sponsorships and grants to hold camps that expand STEM learning

  • Two more camps are planned for the fall, with hopes of inspiring the next generation of engineers

Spencer Hirsch and Aarnav Sathish aren’t just learning robotics. The friends have launched a nonprofit to teach it to younger students who otherwise wouldn’t have access.

“We were able to recognize a really large gap in the school systems, where a lot of kids do not have easy access to specialized robotics education,” said Sathish, a junior at Providence High School. “We came together and formed Robolution CLT to fix that problem.”

Their biggest challenge has been securing funding.

“There is a very high price tag associated with purchasing and deploying robotic kits,” said Hirsch, also a junior at Providence High.

The duo began raising money by cold-calling local businesses for sponsorships and applying for grants. This summer, their determination paid off as they hosted their first four-day camp for 12 middle school students. The kids received a hands-on experience to develop their programming, building and teamwork skills.

“We expose them to engineering challenges,” Sathish said. “We also teach them things that are standardized, like how to use an engineering notebook.”

Sathish and Hirsch were amazed by the response. When they distributed feedback forms at the end of the camp, the average score came back at 8.9 out of 10.

“One student, as he was getting into his parent’s car, we actually overheard saying he had an awesome time,” Hirsch said. “It just makes us feel super happy and joyful to hear that.”

Students typically sign up through a form administered by schools the nonprofit works with. Two more camps are slated for the fall. They hope to include more kids and extend the camp to eight weeks.

“We are discovering things about robotics that are changing the world left and right, changing the way people live, think and even spend their free time,” Sathish said. “Robotics is only going to become increasingly crucial in the future.”