At Manual High School, students are turning ideas into innovation, one robot at a time. For junior Denmark Thompson, team lead of the Manual Robo Rams, robotics is more than a club. It’s a space to create, problem-solve, and grow.
“Building robots is extremely fun,” he said. “I’ve always liked tinkering.”
Inspired by his dad, a mechanic, Denmark developed an early interest in how things work. This interest led him to robotics and now to a leadership role on the team.
The Robo Rams are continuing to grow, with more Manual students joining and taking pride in the program. That shift is helping strengthen the team’s identity and build a culture rooted in collaboration and ownership.
“We’re starting to bring it back to Manual,” Denmark said.
Each season begins with a brand-new challenge, giving students no roadmap, just a goal to work toward. From there, it’s all about teamwork and creativity.
“We start with a blank slate and figure it out from there,” he explained. Students spend weeks designing, building, and testing, learning through trial and error at every step.
The experience goes beyond engineering. Through competitions, students connect with teams from across the region, gaining confidence and learning from one another. “At competitions, you meet people from all over and learn from each other,” Denmark said.
For Denmark, robotics is also helping shape his future. With plans to explore engineering or cybersecurity, he sees the program as a valuable experience.
As the team continues to grow, the Manual Robo Rams are doing more than building robots, they’re building skills, confidence, and a path forward for what’s next.