There was a real sense of accomplishment at Roton Middle School this week as students in The Carver Innovators Challenge completed the build of their robot and welcomed special guests from one of our Innovators Challenge sponsors, Sound Control Technologies (SCT).
Joining the visit were Jody Neaderland, SCT Executive Vice-President, and her son, Jacob Neaderland, a Roton graduate now attending Purdue University. Jacob has a personal connection to robotics at Roton, having worked with Carver’s FIRST® LEGO® League competitions during his time at the school. Together, he and his mother were impressed by the advanced robotics opportunities now being offered to students through this exciting Carver initiative.
Their visit came at just the right moment. Roton students had just finished building their robot — a Level 2 Battle Rob named ERIC — and the pride on their faces said it all. For these students, ERIC represents far more than a completed machine. It reflects teamwork, persistence, creativity, and the thrill of seeing an idea come to life with their own hands.
The Carver Innovators Challenge is designed to connect students, educators, and corporate partners through hands-on learning in robotics, chess, and strategic problem-solving. Over six weeks, students from Fox Run Elementary School, Tracey Elementary School, Roton Middle School, and Nathan Hale Middle School work alongside Carver educators, professional instructors, and industry volunteers in an immersive experience focused on engineering, strategy, collaboration, and leadership.
At Roton, that learning is already taking shape in powerful ways. After successfully building ERIC, students will now begin preparing for a series of challenges leading up to the Carver Innovators’ Robotics Showcase in April.
That showcase will take place at the National Havoc Robot League (NHRL) in Norwalk, one of the most exciting venues anywhere for young people to experience robot combat and applied engineering in action. NHRL is the world’s largest and most accessible robot combat organization, hosting high-energy matches in which hobbyist-built robots face off in a secure arena. For students, it offers an unforgettable opportunity to connect classroom learning to real-world design, technology, and competition.
Programs like this help students develop practical STEM skills while also building confidence, resilience, and problem-solving ability. Just as important, visits from partners like SCT show students that professionals from the business community are paying attention, cheering them on, and investing in their success.
The Carver is deeply grateful to Sound Control Technologies for its support of The Carver Innovators Challenge and for making experiences like this possible. Seeing leaders like Jody and Jacob Neaderland spend time with students sends a powerful message: innovation matters, effort matters, and the next generation of builders and thinkers is worth believing in.
We look forward to cheering on these remarkable students as they continue to refine ERIC and prepare for the big event ahead.
Upcoming public events include:
Carver Innovators’ Chess Tournament
April 20 | 4:15–6:15 PM
The SoNo Collection
Carver Innovators’ Robotics Showcase
April 21 | 4:00–6:00 PM
National Havoc Robot League (HAVOC/NHRL)
These events will celebrate student creativity, perseverance, and innovation while bringing the community together to recognize the power of STEM learning.
