Clute Intermediate School’s rookie all‑girls robotics team made an unforgettable debut at this year’s First Tech Challenge (FTC) League Championships. The Neon Nerds earned the Inspire Award—FTC’s highest honor—and won the League Championship, securing their place at Regionals. Their peer team, Scorpion, also had a standout day earning the CONNECT Award for exceptional STEM outreach and securing a spot on the 4th‑place alliance in tournament play.
For any rookie team, this is an outstanding accomplishment. For an all-girls rookie team, it is an especially powerful moment of leadership and momentum. The team joined robotics thanks to the science and robotics teacher Ms. Becky Teague’s dedication to keeping meaningful STEM opportunities available for 5th and 6th graders. As the Neon Nerds, they’ve embraced a mission of their own: making a future in STEM bright for girls.
CIS Robotics & FTC teach engineering and coding, but also real‑world skills like finance, marketing, public speaking, and leadership. Students fundraise, write grants, mentor younger peers, and represent their school with professionalism beyond their years.
A strong middle‑school STEM experience helps students build momentum, grow confidence, and see themselves as creators and innovators. This year’s all‑girls rookie team shows exactly what becomes possible when students have access to hands-on STEM opportunities.
When asked what going to Regionals means, one student said, “It means all of our hard work has paid off!”
Congratulations to CIS Robotics, and a heartfelt thank you to Ms. Teague and the industry mentors who make this program possible. The future of STEM at CIS is bright—and these students are leading the way.
