The inaugural FIRST Robotics Competition SoCal State Championship, presented by Qualcomm, took over the Anaheim Convention Center Arena April 9–12, 2026, bringing together 60 of Southern California’s top robotics teams and 1,200+ students for four days of FIRST® AGE™ REBUILT™ competition, community, and celebration that could only happen here.
From the sunshine outside to the electric energy on the competition floor, the inaugural SoCal State Championship had a character all its own, diverse, creative, and brimming with the kind of ambition this region is known for. These teams earned their spot, battling through the inaugural FIRST California District season to compete at the highest level of FRC in Southern California.
Opening Ceremonies
The weekend’s opening moments set exactly the right tone. On Saturday, Natalie Taitano of Qualcomm, our presenting sponsor and a longtime champion of STEM in Southern California and beyond, took the stage alongside Anaheim Mayor Pro Tem Carlos Leon, whose presence reflected the city’s pride in hosting this landmark event. On Sunday, the stage belonged to Michael Jobity, CEO of Jetson Infinity and FIRST alumni, whose journey from student competitor to tech entrepreneur was a living reminder of exactly why this program matters.
A Championship Week Full of Energy and Opportunity
The competition was just the beginning. The SoCal State Championship delivered a full lineup of experiences that made this event as much about futures as it was about robots:
- Mentor Breakfast: Friday morning kicked off with a well-deserved celebration for the mentors who make FIRST possible, the people behind the scenes who give their time, expertise, and dedication every single season.
- STEM for Everyone Career Roundtable: An incredible gathering of industry professionals from Google, UCLA Children’s Hospital, Lockheed Martin, LA28, Qualcomm, RTX, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Sandisk and Universal Creative gave students a front-row seat to the breadth of STEM careers available to them.
- Alumni Event: The alumni gathering drew a great crowd and featured guest speaker Brianne Wada of Qualcomm, a group photo, and prizes.
- Qualcomm Trivia: Students and attendees tested their knowledge for a chance to win some seriously cool prizesincluding an Arduino Uno Q and a Rubik Pi. Equal parts fun and educational, just like FIRST.
- Free Robot Glamour Shots: Because every robot deserves its moment in the spotlight.
- FLL & FTC Demos: The next generation of FIRST participants got to show what they’re made of, with FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge dispays.
- College and Scholarship Row: Students had the opportunity to connect with colleges and explore scholarship opportunities.
Officially Recognized by the California State Legislature
In a proud moment for the entire FIRST California community, the SoCal State Championship was officially recognized by the California State Legislature. Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi’s office provided a legislative certificate honoring FIRST Robotics and its impact on STEM education and student innovation across the state. It is a meaningful acknowledgment of the work that students, mentors, volunteers, and partners pour into this program every single year.
Awards
- Impact Award Winners: Team 4201, Vitruvian Bots and Team 589, Falkon Robotics
- Winning Alliance: Team 4414, High Tide; Team 3476, Code Orange; Team 8119, TigerBotics
- Leadership Award Semi-Finalists: Zoe E with Jaguar Robotics Team 7415, Gabriel D withThe Nerd Herd Team 687, Matthew H with NOMAD Team 6995, Ashlyn D with Team Spyder Team 1622
- Engineering Inspiration: Team 2429, The Blockheads
- Full Awards List: 2026 Awards
A heartfelt thank you to Qualcomm, our presenting sponsor, to the Anaheim Convention Center, and to every team, mentor, volunteer, and partner who made this first-ever championship an unforgettable one.
Southern California, this is just the beginning.
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