A Hawk's Eye View: January 23, 2026

Harding’s robotics program has quickly become one of the most joy-filled corners of our campus—a place where curiosity sparks, teamwork thrives, and those big “aha!” moments unfold week after week. As robotics and coding have grown within our curriculum, we’ve watched students’ confidence soar. They’re not just learning to build and code; they’re learning to trust themselves, take risks, and celebrate what they can do.

Mr. Ballow loves watching students light up as they take on challenges—those moments when a robot finally moves, reacts, or solves a task after days of tinkering. “This experience lets so many kids shine in ways they didn’t even know they could,” he says. That spirit of discovery is exactly the kind of growth we hope every child experiences.

Now in his second year, Mr. Erickson has seen firsthand how robotics teaches resilience. Students try, fail, redesign, re-code, and try again—always cheering each other on. It’s a powerful reminder that learning isn’t about perfection; it’s about perseverance and the joy of figuring it out together.

In her first year teaching robotics at Harding, Ms. Sharpe has already witnessed how hands-on engineering connects instantly with students. “When they see something they built actually work, their excitement is contagious,” she shares. Those moments of pure delight are where confidence begins to take root.

Looking ahead, our robotics team is buzzing with possibilities. With our upgraded tech spaces, Mr. Ballow is eager to draw even deeper connections between classroom learning and real-world robotics. He and Mr. Erickson are also expanding our FIRST LEGO League program, giving students opportunities to work with more advanced systems and prepare for local competitions. Ms. Sharpe sees robotics opening doors that extend far beyond middle school—cultivating creativity, resilience, teamwork, and STEM skills that will serve students wherever their paths lead.

And through it all, the joy is unmistakable. Full-group celebrations erupt when a tricky problem is finally solved. Classmates cheer for one another’s breakthroughs. One student even burst into giggles when her robot lit up and moved exactly as she hoped. These moments remind us that robotics isn’t really about the technology—it’s about discovery, confidence, and the thrill of watching your ideas come to life.

At Harding, robotics is one of the many ways we partner with our parent community to help students uncover who they are, what they love, and what they’re capable of. And with each new spark of curiosity, the future gets a little brighter.