FIRST Robotics Competition – San Gabriel Valley District Event, 2026

FIRST Robotics Competition – San Gabriel Valley District Event, 2026

by | Apr 8, 2026 | Blog, Ventura

FIRST California made its debut in the San Gabriel Valley in a big way! The inaugural FIRST Robotics Competition San Gabriel Valley District Event, held March 27–29, 2026, at Don Bosco Technical Institute in Rosemead, brought together 31 high school teams and 900+ students for a landmark weekend of FIRST® AGE™ REBUILT™ competition.

Don Bosco Technical Institute proved to be the perfect setting for a first-ever FIRST event – a school with a deep legacy of technical education and a team that was an absolute joy to work with from start to finish. Their hospitality and partnership helped make this inaugural event a resounding success.

From the competition floor to the pit area, the energy was electric and the spirit of Coopertition was alive all weekend long. Teams competed hard, supported one another, and represented the best of what the FIRST community is all about.

  • Impact Award Winner: Team 1538 – The Holy Cows
  • Winning Alliance: Team 9408 – Warren Warbots, Team 599 – Robodox, Team 968 – RAWC
  • Leadership Award Semi-Finalists: Jaiden K with The Robodox Team 599, Emilie D with Team Paradox Team 2101
  • Engineering Inspiration: Team 3473 – Team Sprocket
  • Full Awards List: 2026 Awards

A heartfelt thank you to all teams, mentors, volunteers, and sponsors who helped write the first chapter of the San Gabriel Valley District Event. We can’t wait to come back!

Photo Gallery

Feel free to download and share any of these photos.  You can tag FIRST California at @firstroboticscalifornia on Instagram  and use hashtags #FIRSTinCA, #morethanrobots, #omgrobots, #REBUILT and #FIRSTAGE.

FIRST Robotics Competition – San Diego District Event, 2026

FIRST Robotics Competition – San Diego District Event, 2026

by | Apr 8, 2026 | Blog, San Diego, Ventura

The FIRST Robotics Competition San Diego District Event, presented by Qualcomm, held March 20–22, 2026, at Francis Parker High School, brought together 40 high school teams and 1,200+ students for an electrifying weekend of FIRST® AGE™ REBUILT™ competition and a milestone worth celebrating: 20 years of FRC events in San Diego!

From the moment teams arrived, the energy was unmatched. Gracious Professionalism® was on full display, with teams supporting one another every step of the way — in the pits, on the field, and everywhere in between.

The opening ceremony set an inspiring tone for the weekend, with a warm welcome from Dr. Kevin Yaley, Head of School at Francis Parker, and inspiring remarks from Rashmi Tripathi, Director of Engineering at Qualcomm. It was a fitting nod to the event’s longtime title sponsor and a champion of STEM in San Diego.

The weekend was packed with standout moments beyond the competition field:

  • Women in STEM Day & STEAM Robotics Observance Day: March 21 was officially declared Women in STEM Day and STEAM Robotics Observance Day in San Diego and STEAM Robotics Day in California thanks to the support of Joel Anderson and Carl DeMaio. A powerful recognition of the work happening in the FIRST community every day.
  • #FIRSTLikeAGirl Meetup: Students gathered to connect, celebrate, and lift each other up in a dedicated meetup that embodied the spirit of inclusion and empowerment at the heart of FIRST.
  • NIWC Pacific Career Conversations: Students had the opportunity to connect with professionals from NIWC Pacific to explore internship opportunities and real-world STEM career pathways.
  • Game Piece Museum: In honor of 20 years of FRC events in San Diego, a special Game Piece Museum gave attendees a chance to look back at two decades of innovation, competition, and community.

Congratulations to the teams and individuals who earned top honors at the San Diego District Event!

  • Impact Award Winner: Team 8119 – TigerBotics
  • Winning Alliance: Team 3128 – Aluminum Narwhals, Team 2102 – Team Paradox, Team 2658 -Σ-Motion
  • Leadership Award Semi-Finalists: Ashlyn D with Team Spyder Team 1622, Matthew H with NOMAD Team 6995
  • Engineering Inspiration: Team 2485 – Overclocked
  • Full Awards List: 2026 Awards

A huge thank you to the 100+ volunteers and dedicated mentors who powered this event, and to the Francis Parker crew and Overclocked for helping welcome everyone into a new venue and making it feel like home from day one.

This is what FIRST is all about.

Photo Gallery

Thank you Ken Woo for these wonderful photos!

Feel free to download and share any of these photos.  You can tag FIRST California at @firstroboticscalifornia on Instagram  and use hashtags #FIRSTinCA, #morethanrobots, #omgrobots, #REBUILT and #FIRSTAGE.

FIRST Robotics Competition – Los Angeles District Event, 2026

FIRST Robotics Competition – Los Angeles District Event, 2026

by | Apr 8, 2026 | Blog, Los Angeles, Ventura

The FIRST Robotics Competition Los Angeles District Event, held March 20–22, 2026, at Da Vinci High School in El Segundo, brought together 42 high school teams and 1,200+ students for an exciting weekend of FIRST® AGE™ REBUILT™ competition. As part of the inaugural FIRST California District season, students designed, built, and competed with industrial-sized robots, demonstrating teamwork, creativity, and advanced engineering skills across three action-packed days.

The event was powered by an extraordinary volunteer effort, with more than 200 volunteers supporting everything from field operations to team experience. A special shoutout goes to Team 4201: The Vitruvian Bots, whose students and mentors went above and beyond pitching in from load-in to load-out and helping ensure a seamless experience for every team on the floor. 

The opening ceremonies added a personal and celebratory touch, with FIRST participants taking center stage beyond the competition field:

  • Saturday: Kenneth V. and Luke L. from Team 2584 performed the national anthem.
  • Sunday: Austin L. from Team 597 opened the day with a stirring performance.

As a Week 3 district event, teams earned valuable points toward qualification for the SoCal District Championship, with the competition underscoring the exciting impact of the new district model in expanding access and opportunity for students across the region.

Congratulations to the teams and individuals who earned top honors at the Los Angeles District Event!

  • Impact Award Winner: Team 4201 – Vitruvian Bots
  • Winning Alliance: Team 3476 – Code Orange, Team 9408 – Warren Warbots, Team 7042 – Poly Rabbotics
  • Leadership Award Semi-Finalists: Diya K with Team 5137 Iron Kodiaks, Gabriel D with Team 687 The Nerd Herd
  • Engineering Inspiration: Team 597 – The Wolverines
  • Full Awards List: Awards 2026

From the pit area to the competition floor, the Los Angeles District Event was a testament to the power of collaboration between students, volunteers, and community partners in delivering a world-class STEM experience. A huge thank you to all teams, mentors, volunteers, and sponsors who made it happen!

Photo Gallery

Feel free to download and share any of these photos.  You can tag FIRST California at @firstroboticscalifornia on Instagram  and use hashtags #FIRSTinCA, #morethanrobots, #omgrobots, #REBUILT and #FIRSTAGE.

FIRST Robotics Competition – Pinnacles District Event, 2026

FIRST Robotics Competition – Pinnacles District Event, 2026

by | Apr 8, 2026 | Blog, Pinnacles, Ventura

The FIRST Robotics Competition Pinnacles District Event, presented by Apple, returned to Hollister High School March 27–29, 2026, bringing together 39 teams and 1,200+ students for another unforgettable weekend of FIRST® AGE™ REBUILT™ competition in the heart of California’s Central Coast.

The opening ceremony brought together inspiring voices from education, industry, and the community. Kevin Medeiros, Principal of Hollister High School, welcomed competitors and expressed pride in hosting the FIRST community on his campus. In a special moment of recognition, Michael Martinez, CEO of Adelante Communications, and Javier Diaz, CEO of OSI Engineering, presented FIRST California with an official certificate on behalf of California House Speaker Robert Rivas. It was a meaningful acknowledgment of the organization’s impact on STEM education across the state.

Congratulations to the teams and individuals who earned top honors at the Pinnacles District Event!

  • Impact Award Winner: Team 4135 – Iron Patriots
  • Winning Alliance: Team 604 – Quixilver, Team 581 – Blazing Bulldogs, Team 7777 – Septobots, Team 4171 – BayBots
  • Leadership Award Semi-Finalists: Meghana K with Team 1868 Space Cookies, Amani M with Team 6665 C-Otters
  • Engineering Inspiration: Team 2854 – Prototypes
  • Full Awards List: 2026 Awards

From the competition floor to the pit area, the Pinnacles District Event was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when schools, business leaders, and community partners rally around the next generation of innovators. A huge thank you to all teams, mentors, volunteers, sponsors, and to Hollister High School for being such a gracious host!

Photo Gallery Coming Soon

Feel free to download and share any of these photos.  You can tag FIRST California at @firstroboticscalifornia on Instagram  and use hashtags #FIRSTinCA, #morethanrobots, #omgrobots, #REBUILT and #FIRSTAGE.

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