2 homeschool parents unite to coach teen robotics team, expand STEM opportunities in McHenry County

Before Cary resident Melissa Ryan started a McHenry County-based robotics team for high school students eight years ago, she did not imagine herself ever being involved in such an endeavor. Now, she and her team of five high school students have advanced to an international robotics competition for two consecutive years.

“I just felt like there was such a need here: so many kids who are not athletes or really into football or basketball, but really have the brain power to want to put that into action into something exciting,” she said.