R4Creating’s two-girl team advances the national Ripken Foundation’s STEM Challenge finals

R4Creating, a nonprofit organization based in Rio Rancho that provides STEM programs for New Mexico’s youth, has its two-girl team advancing to the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation finals.

The annual Ripken Foundation STEM Challenge provides Ripken Foundation STEM Centers with an opportunity to participate in a national competition that uses real-world problem prompts to encourage youth to apply STEM skills and knowledge to develop innovative solutions. The New Mexico team will compete for a $5,000 first-place cash prize.

The team — sixth graders Skyler Gamache and Riley Bishop — will head to Baltimore at the end of the month to present their STEM project The Laughing Lantern, an accessible amusement park ride. The duo has been mentored throughout the process by high school students that are leaders in the R4Creating competitive robotics program.

“Everyone at R4Creating is so proud of these two,” said Dr. Shelly Gruenig, R4Creating founding executive director. “To see them work so hard and wow the Ripken Foundation judges in their online presentation was amazing. Not only have they designed a unique and innovative solution, but they’ve also developed themselves to be able to present to an adult audience remotely. These skills will carry them forward as they continue their middle school experience and beyond.”