NASHUA – It all started with a thought of spending more time with kids and helping them to prepare for a better future.

With the support of like-minded parents, Nilesh Master decided to form a Vex IQ Robotics team called the MasterMinds.

The journey began in October. Coach Master and mentors Raja James, Sajan Thomas and Sam Shankar started teaching fundamentals of STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – using the Vex Robotics platform. Dan Larochelle, regional manager for the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, provided guidance and encouragement.

The MasterMinds consisted of two teams with three enthusiastic students in each team.

Forming Team 10060 were Austin Master, Pennichuck Middle School; Joel Sajan, Academy for Science and Design; and Joanna Raja, Birch Hill Elementary School.

Forming Team 10060B were Aaron Master, Pennichuck; Johan Sajan, ASD; and Joash Shankar, Nashua Christian Academy.

For the first time, the young engineers had hands-on-experience with tools such as shafts, gears, wheels, sensors, and connectors. Spending more than eight hours a week in addition to schoolwork and other extracurricular activities, they successfully built their first working robot. The first competition was held at Boston University in December 2013.

Aaron and Austin Master said the team had good, solid designs but were surprised when they saw all of the creative robots by other teams.”

Still, one of the teams was recognized for winning the team alliance award.

The MasterMinds started preparing for their next challenge using a new strategy and new design. At the pre-regional round in Worcester, Mass., “the teams won six out of seven awards because we showed great determination and teamwork,” Raja said.

The teams began meeting for extra hours of practice, programming and design changing. Finally, they had the opportunity to compete at regional qualification with 28 other teams from New England. After the long day of competing, the MasterMinds placed first and second, won six more awards and qualified for the world championships.

The world championships were held at the Anaheim (Calif.) Convention Center from April 23-26. More than 120 teams from more than 15 countries participated.

“The first day was a lot harder than we expected,” Joel Sajan said.

“It was hard because our robots weren’t working properly,” Raja said.

The MasterMinds participated in the team challenge, Robotic Skills, Autonomous Programming Skills and a Research Project work. With the help of their engineering notebook, the teams were able to show the judges all of their design changes with rational reasons to demonstrate their progression and understanding from day one. The MasterMinds learned key concepts from each area of STEM.

“Robotics taught us how to program,” Shakar said.

They also learned communication skills and the power of creativity, teamwork and respect for one another, as well as other teams.

The MasterMinds concluded by placing fourth and 10th, and Team 10060 won the award for Most Energetic Team.

“This was a great learning experience, and I want to do it again,” Johan Sajan said.