The Full Story
About
MSLR Robotics was founded out of the love and dedication of one father who saw a problem and decided to fix it. When Ricardo noticed that his daughters’ elementary school robotics team was overcrowded, underfunded, and limited by school constraints, he stepped in to create something better. Armed with an extensive background in software design and a passion for mentorship, he launched MSLR Robotics — a program named after his children:
Miranda, Scarlett, Liah, and Rickson — the heart and inspiration behind it all.
What began in 2019 as a single elementary team led by Ricardo and his two oldest daughters has since grown into one of Indiana’s premier robotics programs. That very first team quickly made a name for themselves, breaking records, qualifying for the Indiana State Championship, and ultimately earning a spot at the prestigious VEX Robotics World Championship.
Today, MSLR Robotics is entering its seventh season and continues to grow. The program now includes:
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6 Elementary Teams
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3 Middle School Teams
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1 High School Team (new for the 2025 season)
Our students and their families come from across Northwest Indiana, united by their passion for robotics and a commitment to excellence. Members dedicate countless hours each week designing, building, and programming competition-ready robots. The dedication and perseverance of these young engineers form the foundation of our success.
Our Competitive Achievements
Robotics is a dynamic, fast-paced extracurricular that challenges students with game-based engineering tasks. Through local meets and national Signature Events, our teams consistently rise to the occasion:
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Ranked #1 in the State of Indiana (out of 700+ teams) for the 2024–2025 Elementary season
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Only club in the nation to win every Signature Event attended during the 2024–2025 season
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At its core, MSLR Robotics remains true to Ricardo’s original mission: to share his knowledge and passion for robotics with his children — and now, with dozens of students across all grade levels. Though the program has grown, the heart behind it remains the same: empowering the next generation of innovators through opportunity, mentorship, and hands-on STEM education.
Mission
Our mission is to inspire and empower young minds through a yearlong STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) program. Competitions with VEX IQ foster students' interest in STEM and develop leadership skills while building up
their communication skills through problem-solving together. We promote "gracious professionalism" Instead of teams competing against each other, VEX IQ competitions consist of teamwork, with two teams working together for the same outcome.
MSLR Robotics provides a space where all students, especially those with a passion for technology, can thrive.
Vision
We strive to inspire students who love robotics to reach potentials they never thought possible. In doing so, we provide a platform where they can not only challenge themselves but also explore exciting STEM-related career opportunities. Through robotics, they learn valuable skills that set the stage for future success in fields like engineering, computer science, and beyond — areas where they can truly make a difference.
