Neon Nerdettes, is an all-girls FIRST LEGO League (FLL) robotics team from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. The team is supported by Shrewsbury Robotics. The team consists of four middle school students who love robotics, innovation, KPop, and musical theater. Although they are a rookie team, they have quickly discovered a passion for engineering, coding, and problem-solving through FLL.

In their very first season, “Unearthed,” the team was honored to win the Champion’s Award at the WPI Qualifier and the Champion Finalist Award at the WPI State Competition held in December 2025. These awards recognize excellence in robot design, coding, innovation research, teamwork, and core values.

For the Innovation Project, the Neon Nerdettes created the “Pic-A-Boo! - Artifact Photo Studio,” a portable device designed to help archaeologists document fragile artifacts more efficiently in the field. Inspired by conversations with archaeology experts from the College of Holy Cross and the City of Boston Archeology Program, this system combines automated 360° photography, artifact measurement, and digital cataloging using Arduino technology, sensors, 3D-printed components, and an accompanying mobile app. The app allows archaeologists to organize artifact information, upload images directly from the field, store measurements, and notes, and create a digital archive that can be easily shared with researchers and museums. The team's goal is to make artifact preservation and documentation faster, more accessible, and more accurate for archaeologists working on excavation sites.

NextGen Robotics, a FIRST LEGO League (FLL) team made up of sixth-grade students from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, came together for the first time during the 2025–2026 “Unearthed” season. Through the experience, the team developed strong skills in teamwork, communication, perseverance, and time management while learning the fundamentals of robotics, coding, and innovation design.

During the season, the team worked collaboratively to design, build, and program a robot that performed successfully in competition. For their Innovation Project, the students focused on creating a practical and protective suit for archaeologists working on excavation sites. Their design featured multiple storage pockets for tools and supplies, along with magnetized armbands that allowed archaeologists to securely hold and easily access small tools while working carefully with delicate artifacts.

The judges praised the team for the creativity, usefulness, and thoughtful functionality of their design, specifically highlighting how easily the suit would pack in their suitcase to the dig site. Throughout the season, the Archeologists demonstrated curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to learn from experts, making their FLL experience both meaningful and rewarding.