At Philadelphia’s Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab, Corrine Schultz turned a longtime interest in design into new technical skills, a stronger sense of confidence and a path to Drexel University.
When Corrine Schultz first visited the Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab with her family in September 2025, the facility and its welcoming staff made a strong impression. The visit opened a door to experiences that would shape her senior year—and help prepare her for college.
Schultz explored several programs at the Lab. She took architecture and college readiness courses, volunteered in elementary classes and joined Tiger Robotics as a member of its computer-aided design group. She expected a class focused on building robots. Instead, she found herself on a competitive team.
That surprise became an opportunity to connect her creativity with engineering. Schultz had spent years designing elaborate structures on Bloxburg, a Roblox platform. On the robotics team, she could bring that interest into new digital and hands-on projects.
Learning computer-aided design required patience. With support from head coach Mez and teammates Yoshua and Vincent, Schultz learned to use Onshape and work through the early challenges of CAD. The encouragement helped her persist as she developed new skills.
The team’s season brought achievements and experiences beyond the workshop. Tiger Robotics earned multiple Rookie All-Star awards and competed at the FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship in Houston, Texas, alongside teams from around the world.
For Schultz, the year’s value reached beyond technical training. Working with the team helped her meet challenges, trust her abilities and become more confident. The Lab also connected her with friends, mentors and a community that supported her throughout the experience.
Now, after completing a summer internship, Schultz is preparing to begin her freshman year at Drexel University. Leaving the Learning Lab is bittersweet, but she plans to stay connected. She credits her family for helping her get to the Lab several times a week and expresses gratitude for the people who made the experience possible.
Her path—from discovering the Lab to competing on a robotics team—shows how hands-on programs can help students turn existing interests into new possibilities. For Schultz, the combination of creativity, teamwork and persistence helped make the transition to college feel like the beginning of another chapter.
Based on Corrine Schultz’s story published by TGR Learning Lab Philadelphia.
