Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ursela Garvin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ursela , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career

I would change the educational system in three major areas. Those changes include reviving teacher education prep programs, connecting learning in every class to real-life work opportunities, and providing each teacher worldwide with at least $1,000 to purchase instructional supplies.

When I began teaching robotics years ago, I noticed there needed to be more connection between the curriculum and ensuring that students understood how to pursue a career in this field. In the middle school in which I was employed, students took one class in robotics and were not offered an opportunity to continue learning centered on robotics. Additionally, if students wanted to attend a summer camp, join a robotics team, or engage in afterschool robotics, the options were limited and oftentimes extremely expensive. Most students and families could not afford to engage in robotics education. I created the STEMbotics Learning Center to bridge these gaps. To date, we have engaged over 1.000 students in robotics through strategic partnerships with state and local governments and businesses. We have been able to host summer camps for free or discounted rates since 2018. This year, all students in the local school district will attend the camp for free due to one of our community partnerships. We also have begun to train teachers in robotics and STEM concepts. Training teachers allows us to fulfill our mission of ensuring that students receive quality lessons and real-world opportunities so that they may make more informed decisions about their future careers.

Ursela , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I remember walking to the mailbox during my senior year of high school and seeing a package from North Carolina A&T State University. My heart was pounding as I entered the kitchen and prepared to open the letter. This school was the only school in which I applied. The first line read, “Congratulations, You have been accepted to North Carolina A&T State University”. I jumped and screamed so loud that I had been accepted into my number one choice. I am sure my neighbors down the country road heard me. I had visited many colleges but there was something special about NC A&T SU. The Historically Black College or University (HBCU) produced the largest number of Black engineers and tech professionals, and I could not wait to be a part of the family. My goal was to work in business and technology. However, I was afforded to opportunity to work as a student worker under Dr. Cathy Kea in the Special Education department. Through my work with her, I developed a love for teaching and decided that upon graduating, I would seek a Master’s in education and begin my teaching journey. Eighteen years later, it is still the best decision ever. My role as an educator brings me so much joy and allows me to continue to engage in my passion for learning. The more I learn, the more I can teach my students and community.

STEMbotics Learning Center provides robotics and agriculture summer camps, community events, private lessons, and robot rentals for children in grades K-8. In addition to a rigorous curriculum and a focus on healthy eating, students will be allowed to engage in global learning with students from around the world. Our students will build the best robots to assist us in the critical task of growing food. We are the #1 provider of global robotics education in Las Vegas, NV. We’re also mobile! We will bring our global robotics program to your school, church, or childcare facility. In many neighborhoods around the world, there are thriving food deserts. Additionally, food costs around the world are steadily increasing. We aim to provide students and their families with solutions to this problem through robotics and computer science.

I am most proud of STEMbotics Learning Center’s ability to provide our summer camps, after-school programming, and community events at a free or discounted rate to the community. Through my experience, many students are interested in robotics and agriculture but are often priced out of the programs or lack the proper transportation to take advantage of programs. During our summer programming, we also host an “I Am Well” facilitated by David McDuffie. He provides the students with strategies to ensure they are well in their minds, bodies, and spirits. We seek to educate the whole child. We understand that it will be difficult to accomplish life goals if you are not well. We are so proud that we have been able to remove these barriers for our families.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

My commitment to excellence, integrity, and hard work have built my reputation in the educational landscape. Most people know that when they work with me, I approach any situation with an open heart, listening ears, and a clear mind. I do my best to not be within the space of my ego and do what is best for our students, their families and our community.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I started STEMbotics with a $5,000 personal loan. I bought three robots and refurbished some old computers. I bought a vending tablecloth and banner to begin marketing my business. I also purchased street signs for marketing purposes. These signs were extremely small and matched our budget at the time. However, we recruited three students to our first camps with these signs. An actual “small but mighty” moment!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stemboticsnv.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stemboticslearning/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stemboticsnv
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ursela-garvin-27450430
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fstemboticslc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC70U115kT-umhQGg85mOZpQ