BY ALBINA BASSARAB
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Roseville High School senior Kevin Carlson’s passion for science has helped inspire the creation of classes and clubs at Roseville High School that have taken its STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) programs to new levels.
Carlson started the Robotix club during his sophomore year. Carlson then began working with science teacher John Fuller not only to create the Robotix club, but also RHS’s first Project Lead The Way class.
“Starting that robotics team [was] really what got the first gear going,” Carlson said. “When I started the team during my sophomore year I didn’t know anything about robotics and I looked for a teacher and found Mr. Fuller was [also] enthusiastic about it.”
Carlson took the same spirit and dedication of the Robotix club, and helped streamline it into a class accessible to more students and thus Intro to Engineering – a PLTW program – was born.
“He was interested in getting an engineer class so me and him approached the administrators about PLTW and we just started from there,” Fuller said. “It was his idea to look into an engineering class.”
According to Fuller as well as members of the Robotix club, Carlson leads the club in all aspects.
“Kevin has helped really get the robotics club off the ground and going,” Fuller said. “He does everything from organizing the members to handling the finances to building the robots and getting everyone engaged and involved in the program”
Members of the Robotix club and students in the PLTW class recognize what Carlson has done for the program and the work he has put in.
“He’s built the club from the ground up,” Ryan Corrigan said, an active member of the Robotix club. “He’s a very good leader, [and] he gets the job done.”
According to Mike Purvines, the co-head of the science department, Carlson is behind the advancement the science department has made the past year.
“[Kevin] really has spent a lot of time getting that Robotix [club], and it’s super exciting and competitive stuff,” Purvines said. “He was definitely the catalyst that got the whole program going.”
Carlson’s hard work and devotion to science and the Robotix club paid off when he was accepted into MIT. His eagerness and dedication has not only helped him get attention from colleges as a student, but helped him develop as a person.
“From where I was freshman year I’ve really grown in my knowledge of STEM and robotics and different fields,” Carlson said. “Roseville High has really helped me develop into the person I am now, the different programs at Roseville has really opened up my world.”
According to Fuller, it isn’t Carlson who changed to get into MIT but it’s his hard work paying off.
“Kevin hasn’t changed too much, he’s still down to earth and still interested in science and math,” Fuller said. ““He seems pretty eager and anxious to get to MIT but he’s enjoying himself with this program.”
Roseville High School alumnus and graduate of the class of 2012, Aarif Masani had an interest in a scientific career during his time in high school. According to Masani, these kind of classes and programs are beneficial for the new generation of high school students.
“Roseville High School has been keeping up with the new times and helping kids be prepared for college,” Masani said. “The medical field is rapidly growing, and I’m glad the program and students at RHS are matching that rapid growth.”
As a college student Masani says this kind of program helps student find what they are passionate about before they go to college.
“This kind of program helps students decide whether they enjoy a specific major or field, so they don’t [end up] going to college and deciding it’s not for them,” Masani said.
Roseville High School alumna and Carlson’s sister, Emma Carlson is proud of the legacy her brother will have left behind at Roseville High School.
“Kevin really has a passion for the engineering aspects of science,” said Emma Carlson. “His dedication to engineering has really payed off for the program and getting [more] students involved.”