Making Waves at Western Edge Open 2025

Making Waves at Western Edge Open 2025

by | Jun 16, 2025 | FLL - Southern, Uncategorized

From May 30 to June 1, 2025, the Long Beach Convention Center became an ocean of innovation as the Western Edge FIRST LEGO League Open made a splash with its biggest event yet!

With 95 teams from 20 countries and 28 U.S. states, the event overflowed with energy, excitement, and incredible moments. Over three jam-packed days, participants navigated challenges, built friendships, and showed the world that when we come together, we rise…just like the tide.

Whether competing in robot missions, forming new alliances, or rocking brick-built LEGO shades, these young minds didn’t just ride the wave, they helped create it!

Photo Gallery 1: Photographer John Tsai
Photo Gallery 2: Photographer Rene Haro

Moments That Made Waves

LEGO Shades Take Over Saturday
The future’s so bright, these teams had to build shades! Day 2 saw teams styling custom LEGO glasses.

Minifig Trading & Team Bonding
Minifigs were traded and lifelong friendships were formed over shared passions for STEM, LEGO, and global collaboration.

Saturday Night Glow Party
On Saturday night, the lights went down and the energy lit up at the Glow Party, where kids, parents, and coaches hit the dance floor, let loose, and celebrated the spirit of FIRST with non-stop moves.

Dance Floor Magic
The Closing Ceremonies on Sunday brought more than just awards . . . it brought vibes. With music, dancing and an unbelievably long conga line, the energy in the room was incredible.

On-the-Spot Challenge: Gates to Atlantis 

This year’s On-the-Spot Challenge pushed teams to the limit in the best way possible. After the main rounds wrapped up, a unique, brand-new game was revealed: Gates to Atlantis. 

Randomly grouped into alliances of three, teams had just one evening to collaborate, brainstorm, build, and program robots to take on the mysterious underwater mission. It was a true test of gracious professionalism, adaptability, and teamwork.

FIRST LEGO League Explore Game

Back for another year, California Southern FIRST LEGO League’s Explore game brought younger teams into the fun on their own Explore Stage!

Using the mat from their field setup kits, teams raced to complete 15 push/pull missions in just 2 minutes all while learning, laughing, and celebrating what it means to explore and engineer. 

A Steady Anchor in the FIRST Community

For their extraordinary commitment to education, innovation, and the FIRST community, the 2025 Founders Award was presented to the Gene Haas Foundation.

Congratulations Are in Order!

A massive round of applause to HFG Robos from Germany for earning the Champion’s Award and to every single team that competed with heart, curiosity, and creativity.

Making it to the Western Edge Open is no small feat, and each of you made this event one to remember.

Western Edge Open

Champions Award

HFG-Robos

1st Place Robot Design

Top Class

1st Place Core Values

Nano

1st Place Innovation Project

Venabots

1st Place Robot Performance

Montagnana4Robotics

Breakthrough Award

Sjögurkorna

Motivate Award

GIPSY DANGER

Engineering Excellence

Cosmic Lego F.O.R.C.E.

Rising All-Star

The Flaming Cyber Tigers

On The Spot - 1st Place

Teams: Saline Robohive, Oceanic Outlaws, Electric Eagles

Breakthrough Award

Automaton Piscis

Motivate Award

Electric Eagles

Engineering Excellence

Cyber Dragons

Rising All-Star

Fusion – Bumblebee

On The Spot - 2nd Place

Teams: The Flaming Cyber Tigers, Eagle Tech Titans, Bunki Suru

Breakthrough Award

Alt + Tab 

Motivate Award

The Shady Bunch

Engineering Excellence

RZKW

Rising All-Star

H2O Bots

On The Spot - 3rd Place

 Teams: KMS Constructors, Captioma Elementals, Rockin’ Robots

Western Edge Open

Gracious Professionalism Award

SONIC DEEP DIVERS

Team Model Award

Tinkerbits Jr.

Innovator Award

LEGO Raptors

Research Excellence Award

Dolphin Squad

Challenge Solution Award

LegoWarriors!

Innovation Award

WildRoz

Team Spirit Award

Stone Ranch Robotech Magalodons

Inclusion Award

The Robolts

Imaginative Innovators Award

Hawai’i Starmies

Core Values Award

Mind Breakers

Coding Award

Marine Biologist Boys

Storytelling Champion Award

Aquatic Robotics

See the full list of awards

Our Steady Crew Behind the Scenes

Let’s hear it for the volunteers, parents, coaches, and sponsors who poured their time, passion, and energy into making the Western Edge Open a reality.

You are the catalysts who help these young innovators rise. Whether checking in teams, keeping the matches running, supporting from the sidelines, or cheering from the stands … your impact was felt every step of the way. 

Coach/Mentor Award

Kari Harvey
from Abell Robotics- SEAGLES

Coach/Mentor Award

Anthony Cho
from F.A.S.T. Robotics

Coach/Mentor Award

Marisol Celene
from Mendoza Gomez – Venabots

Re-live the action!

YOUTUBE: Watch a replay of the livestream
INSTAGRAM: Watch the "WEO 2025" Highlights Tab
FIRST Robotics Competition – Aerospace Valley Regional

FIRST Robotics Competition – Aerospace Valley Regional

by | Apr 14, 2025 | aerospace valley, Blog

The FIRST Robotics Competition Aerospace Valley Regional, held April 2-5, 2025, featured 40 teams and 1200+ students from California, Turkiye and Chinese Taipei.

It was an inspiring and unforgettable time at the Aerospace Valley Regional, filled with innovation, community pride, and powerful moments that embodied the spirit of FIRST.

The event opened with a moving performance by the Lancaster High School Color Guard, setting the tone for a weekend rooted in excellence and collaboration.

Throughout the event, we were honored to welcome a lineup of distinguished speakers who shared insights from the forefront of science, technology, and public service:

  • George Whitsides, Representative of California’s 27th District

  • Brad Flick, Center Director, NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center

  • Keith Peterson, Vice President of Integration, Skunk Works

During lunch, attendees were treated to a dynamic and colorful performance by EHS Los Leones, showcasing local talent and school spirit. The evening concluded with a relaxed and celebratory Mentor Mocktail Hour, giving mentors a chance to connect and recharge.

Day 2 began with a heartfelt Opening Ceremony by the Knight High School Color Guard, followed by another round of impactful guest speakers:

  • Gregory Nehen, Superintendent, AVUHSD

  • Diego Silva, Senior Advanced Automation Engineer, Northrop Grumman

  • R. Rex Parris, Mayor of Lancaster

From compelling speakers to high-energy matches and meaningful community moments, the Aerospace Valley Regional was an incredible success. Thank you to all the teams, volunteers, mentors, and sponsors who made it possible!

 

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, #REEFSCAPE and #FIRSTDIVE.

LIST OF TEAMS ADVANCING TO CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HOUSTON!!!

The following teams and individuals earned top honors at the San Diego Regional and earned their way to compete at the FIRST Championships in Houston, April 16-19, 2025.

FIRST Impact Award

The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.

The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture. The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

Finding an Impact winner truly challenged the judges. We found our answer in the natural world. Whether participating in local community events and parades or reaching out across the globe, these jungle dwellers leave their mark. Taking the time to ask what voices are missing in FIRST shows this team’s commitment to making FIRST available for all. Go Baby Go all the way to Championships.

  • Team 2637, Phantom Catz from Rolling Hills Estates, CA

    Engineering Inspiration

    The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school or organization, and community. Inspiring others to respect science and technology requires passion, knowledge and commitment, and we recognize these qualities through this award. This team will advance to the Championships.

    This award recognizes a team that inspires its community to greater heights in respect for engineering. They provided design guides to introduce engineering to many students who might not otherwise get involved, and about a third of their school is involved with the team. There’s a saying that it’s not easy being green, but they made it look effortless with green everywhere in their pit and robot, and a robot petting zoo to make things fun. It was a totally appropriate look for a Gator!

    •  Team 1700, Gatorbotics from Palo Alto, CA

    Regional Winners Qualifying for Championship

      • Team 4415, EPIC Robotz from Cerritos, CA
      • Team 5199, Robot Dolphins From Outer Space from Dana Point, CA

    The Dean’s List Finalist

    In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

    • Siona G, Team 2584, Flame of the West
    • Angel D, Team 5012, Gryffingear

    Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

    FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

    In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

    Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

    • Ernest Acosta, Team 2584, Flame of the West

    Additional Awards

    Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the Aerospace Valley Regional! See the list here.

    FIRST Robotics Competition – Central Valley Regional

    FIRST Robotics Competition – Central Valley Regional

    by | Apr 14, 2025 | Blog, Central Valley

    The FIRST Robotics Competition Central Valley Regional, held April 3-6, 2025, featured 42 teams and 1200+ students from California, Hawaii, Arizona, Turkiye and Chinese Taipe and was a true display of resilience, adaptability, and community spirit.

    While the event began with unexpected challenges – a tighter space than anticipated that required a redesign of the pit and field layout on arrival day – teams, volunteers, and organizers came together to create an exceptional experience.

    Despite the rocky start, the event quickly transformed into a highlight of the season:

    • The new layout provided preferred seating for scouting for both red and blue alliances—benefiting every team.

    • A local school district donated a 10×20 LED wall, giving teams in the pits a clear view of the action, creating a connected and exciting atmosphere throughout the venue.

    • Though we have the machine shop as planned, a team stepped up offering their lab and resources. They brought extra equipment and produced over 100 custom parts during the event using CNC machines, 3D printers, and laser cutters – a perfect example of coopertition in action.

    Thank you to every team, volunteer, mentor, and supporter who helped turn unexpected obstacles into moments of collaboration and success. The Central Valley Regional was a reminder that when we work together, anything is possible.

     

    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, #REEFSCAPE and #FIRSTDIVE.

    LIST OF TEAMS ADVANCING TO CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HOUSTON!!!

    The following teams and individuals earned top honors at the San Diego Regional and earned their way to compete at the FIRST Championships in Houston, April 16-19, 2025.

    FIRST Impact Award

    The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.

    The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture. The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

    Achieving global influence, these young people have forged valuable partnerships with national and international organizations. Always pushing toward the goal yet never holding the ball, they inspire youth, peers and elders alike. They’ll gladly be your dragon, providing a “sparc” for your journey, especially if you can’t quite see them.

    • Team 5665, FENERBAHCE DOGUS SPARC from Istanbul, Turkiye

      Engineering Inspiration

      The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school or organization, and community. Inspiring others to respect science and technology requires passion, knowledge and commitment, and we recognize these qualities through this award. This team will advance to the Championships.

      They light the way where darkness long had grown. Through hands-on outreach, young minds begin to soar. With lessons shared and passions deeply sown, they open doors once locked to those before. A roaring force that lifts up dreams untold, these dinos inspire and claim the prize in gold! 

      •  Team 5817, Uni-Rex from Fresno, CA

      Regional Winners Qualifying for Championship

        • Team 3970, Duncan Dynamics from Fresno, CA
        • Team 973, Greybots from Atascadero, CA

       

      The Dean’s List Finalist

      In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

      • Maiya P, Team 5817, Uni-Rex
      • Logan W, Team 1671, Buchanan Bird Brains

      Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

      FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

      In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

      Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

      This team tells us that this mentor channels Socrates and has students diagram their thoughts on a white board while working through a problem, then guides their thinking to a strong solution that these students own and can execute. This mentor is multi-talented and rams their team through resource restraints. This team is proud of their team and credits this mentor with their successes.

      • David Morton, Team 2288, Hydra Robotics

       

      Additional Awards

      Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the Central Valley Regional! See the list here.

      FIRST Robotics Competition – East Bay Regional

      FIRST Robotics Competition – East Bay Regional

      by | Apr 14, 2025 | Blog, East Bay

      The FIRST Robotics Competition East Bay Regional, held April 3-6, 2025, closed out 6 weeks of Regionals with a high-energy, community-driven event that brought together 55 teams and 1600+ students from California, Hawaii, Turkiye, Brazil, and Australia.

      Here are a few standout moments from the final weekend of regionals in the state:

      • The Women in STEM meetup was one of the largest yet, with over 150 girls attending to hear from an inspiring panel of professionals representing Blue River Technologies, GM/Cruise, and KLA.

      • The analyst desk kept the crowd engaged and informed with match insights and commentary throughout both qualifications and playoffs.

      • Therapy dogs made a big impact on Saturday and Sunday, helping students and mentors unwind and reset during a packed competition weekend.

      • East Bay capped off 6 weeks of incredible matches, innovation, and Gracious Professionalism across the state.

      A huge thank you to all the teams, mentors, volunteers, and sponsors who made this event an unforgettable success. 

      Photo Gallery A
      Photo Gallery B
      Photo Gallery C

      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, #REEFSCAPE and #FIRSTDIVE.

      LIST OF TEAMS ADVANCING TO CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HOUSTON!!!

      The following teams and individuals earned top honors at the San Diego Regional and earned their way to compete at the FIRST Championships in Houston, April 16-19, 2025.

      FIRST Impact Award

      The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.

      The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture. The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

      Since Breaking down barriers is just the beginning of this team’s impact. Where others might be held back by disability, distance, or disadvantage, this team ensures that barriers to STEAM education are never obstacles that can’t be overcome. They don’t just teach the next generation — they reach every generation. From preschoolers to nursing home residents, this team is proving that no one is too young, too old, or too different to find a home in STEAM. Through international mentorship, online programs, and sending robots to the far corners of the world — even Antarctica — their classroom now spans every continent. This team isn’t just opening doors. They’re building entirely new ones — and making sure no one is left behind when they swing open.

      • Team 5985, Project Bucephalus from Wollongong, Australia

        Engineering Inspiration

        The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school or organization, and community. Inspiring others to respect science and technology requires passion, knowledge and commitment, and we recognize these qualities through this award. This team will advance to the Championships.

        The door’s always open at this large and enthusiastic team, which has created a robust pipeline starting with their strong presence at local community events, summer LEGO camps and numerous FLL teams. Judges were particularly impressed by their continuous reflections and the use of survey data to assess their outreach effectiveness and identify areas for expansion such as securing a $12,000 grant to fund FLL teams in underserved communities. Over the past two years, they have even hosted an Engineering Expo at their school by recruiting their state senator to publicize the event, drawing over 1,500 attendees.

        •  Team 589, Falcon Robotics from La Crescenta, CA

        Regional Winners Qualifying for Championship

          • Team 254, The Cheesy Poofs from San Jose, CA
          • Team 4270, Crusaders from Honolulu, HI

        The Dean’s List Finalist

        In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

        • Akshara P, Team 766, M-A Bears
        • Havvanur D, Team 10246, INFINITECH

        Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

        FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

        In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

        Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

        As an educator, this mentor goes beyond explanation to reach understanding for ALL her students – a remarkable achievement. Excelling as a teacher of foundational STEAM skills, she inspires growth. Her enthusiasm moves her students. Getting her hands dirty, this mentor inspires careers.This mentor co-founded a robotics course providing industry skills to year 10 students. Hands-on, she teaches problem-solving, design, machining, strategy and safety. Through communication, this mentor inspires unity, blending Creativity and Technology, this mentor inspires Art. As a Teacher, this mentor challenges assumptions. As an Advocate, she inspires change. As a Leader, she ignites creativity. With this mentor, STEM truly becomes STEAM. An Artist. An Engineer. A Pioneer.

        • Faith Clark, Team 5985, Project Bucephalus

        Additional Awards

        Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the East Bay Regional! See the list here.

        FIRST Robotics Competition – Contra Costa

        FIRST Robotics Competition – Contra Costa

        by | Apr 8, 2025 | Blog, Contra Costa

        The FIRST Robotics Competition Contra Costa Regional, held March 27-30, 2025, brought energy, excitement, and inspiration to a brand-new venue at Pittsburg High School, hosting 40 outstanding teams and over 1200 students from California, Arizona and Mexico for a weekend filled with competition and community.

         

        The Contra Costa Regional highlights from the event included:

        • A powerful Women in STEM event and panel that welcomed around 150 students. The panel featured all FIRST alumnae representing John Deere and KLA, who shared their journeys and inspired the next generation of innovators.

        • PG&E had a strong presence at the event, with a dedicated table and around 15 enthusiastic volunteers supporting teams and engaging with students throughout the weekend.

        • Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) also hosted an outreach table to connect with students and share information about their FIRST scholarships and programs.

        Thank you to all the teams, mentors, volunteers, and sponsors who made the Contra Costa Regional a success. It was an incredible weekend of learning, teamwork, and Gracious Professionalism – we’re already looking forward to what’s next.

        Photo Gallery

        Thank you Joshua Wagner for capturing these wonderful memories!

        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, #REEFSCAPE and #FIRSTDIVE.

        LIST OF TEAMS ADVANCING TO CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HOUSTON!!!

        The following teams and individuals earned top honors at the San Diego Regional and earned their way to compete at the FIRST Championships in Houston, April 16-19, 2025.

        FIRST Impact Award

        The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.

        The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture. The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

        Since its inception, this team has demonstrated resilience, never backing down from a single challenge; AGAIN and AGAIN they transform obstacles into opportunities they can use to their advantage. The judges were particular impressed by the lengths they went through to design the entire team around financial accessibility. They ignite a spark by inspiring young minds in their community through partnerships with a diverse group of organizations. This team stood out as STARS with their effective use of assessment surveys and the engineering design process to find members of their community who might not otherwise be exposed to STEM opportunities. It was clear how they identified a problem, collected quantitative data and made strategic decisions to achieve maximum impact with continuous feedback cycles. This team is also building alliances in their community to strengthen the FIRST bond to unite the FRC teams in their district into one cohesive, functioning SYSTEM. Their SYSTEMATIC approach at self improvement and expanding FIRST footprint operates in perfect harmony like parts of a CIRCUIT BOARD to create meaningful impact for many years to come.

        • Team 3598, SEStematic Eliminators from Sacramento, CA

          Engineering Inspiration

          The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school or organization, and community. Inspiring others to respect science and technology requires passion, knowledge and commitment, and we recognize these qualities through this award. This team will advance to the Championships.

          In addition to sustaining their long-lasting initiatives that impact their local FIRST community, this team has found creative ways to plan and execute several new initiatives this season. At a local and global scale, they sought to understand the needs of the underserved communities they help; focused on building a solid foundation for a meaningful education. This included both students and teachers. Having had so many of their members to through their programs has sent RIPPLES throughout their community, growing into WAVES across the world. Utilizing these DEPTHS across their team, they help everyone to SWIM FORWARD.

          •  Team 649, MSET Fish from Saratoga, CA

          Regional Winners Qualifying for Championship

            • Team 1678, Citrus Circuits from Davis, CA
            • Team 1323, MadTown Robotics from Madera, CA

          The Dean’s List Finalist

          In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

          • Sanvi P, Team 6662, FalconX
          • Pablo C, Team 3478, PrepaTec – LamBot

          Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

          FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

          In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

          Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

          This mentor focuses on creating an environment where learning is the goal, where teamwork and cooperation are the norm, and where evidence-based decision making is the end product. This mentor shares his enthusiasm for learning and creativity with every student on their team. This mentor understands that quick can also be inspiring.

          • James Best, Team 604, Quixilver

           

          Additional Awards

          Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the Contra Costa Regional! See the list here.

          FIRST Robotics Competition – San Francisco

          FIRST Robotics Competition – San Francisco

          by | Apr 8, 2025 | Blog, San Francisco

          The FIRST Robotics Competition San Francisco Regional, held March 21-23, 2025, featured 41 teams and 1,200+ students from California with teams also coming all the way from Chinese Taipei and Turkey.

          This Regional brought teams together for a unique and exciting 2.5-day pilot event, offering an extended schedule and more opportunities for teams to engage, connect, and compete.

          The event was structured to give teams a strong start and plenty of field time:

          • The first half-day was dedicated to load-in, robot inspections, and practice matches.

          • Day two continued with more practice in the morning, followed by opening ceremonies and qualification matches in the afternoon.

          • The final day featured a full schedule of qualifications, alliance selection, and playoffs, culminating in a high-energy finals round.

          Event highlights included:

          • A standout Women in STEM panel featuring professionals from Intuitive Surgical, Salesforce, and John Deere, with around 80 students in attendance. The session offered insight, inspiration, and connection for students interested in STEM pathways.

          • A well-attended Mentor Breakfast provided space for conversation and included a Q&A about the future of FIRST California, including updates on the District Model.

          • A memorable logistical moment: a Gradall was needed to guide some teams into their pits—an unusual but effective solution that added to the unique character of this event.

          Thanks to all the teams, volunteers, mentors, and sponsors who helped make this pilot event a success. Your enthusiasm and flexibility helped set the tone for an exciting future in the Bay Area and beyond.

          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, #REEFSCAPE and #FIRSTDIVE.

          LIST OF TEAMS ADVANCING TO CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HOUSTON!!!

          The following teams and individuals earned top honors at the San Diego Regional and earned their way to compete at the FIRST Championships in Houston, April 16-19, 2025.

          FIRST Impact Award

          The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.

          The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture. The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

          Like a vibrant coral reef, this team provides safety to many FIRST students. From the shallows of FLL to the depths of FRC, they provide critical year-round support to start and sustain FIRST teams. This team decided that achieving 100% adoption of their equity initiative across FRC events was not enough and is now expanding this meaningful work to other FIRST programs. We’re awestruck by how fast support of their community field has bloomed. Their outreach recipe requires all ingredients—every member tags along to BAKE a better future.

          • Team 1868, The Space Cookies from Mountain View, CA

            Engineering Inspiration

            The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school or organization, and community. Inspiring others to respect science and technology requires passion, knowledge and commitment, and we recognize these qualities through this award. This team will advance to the Championships.

            Diversity and sustainability are at the core of this team’s many programs, ensuring equitable access across their home district for underrepresented groups in STEM through internal training, workshops, and industry panels. They FIGHT for STEM access in low income areas with limited opportunities all around the world, with programs ranging from their local elementary schools to active and in-person outreach in India, Taiwan, and Nigeria. With branding levels rivaling the Warner Bros, the BRIDGES they’ve BUILT are bound to BEAT the issues with the brain, the heart, and much much more in the future.

            •  Team 3256, WarriorBorgs from San Jose, CA

             

            Regional Winners Qualifying for Championship

            • Team 5940, BREAD from Redwood City, CA
            • Team 10523, Singularity Robotics from San Jose, CA

            The Dean’s List Finalist

            In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

            • George T, Team 840, Aragon Robotics
            • Aimee D, Team 3256, WarriorBorgs

            Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

            FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

            In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

            Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

            This mentor, since co-founding the team several years ago, has led students to a spot where the team is strong, successful, highly visible, and able to handle the ongoing challenges of the FIRST experience with confidence. In a well-written essay with excellent specifics about their mentor, students described a person who is an unwavering force when it comes to making the students more successful. This mentor, a teacher, uses organization and humor to keep her students motivated.

            • Rachael Spillard, Team 5507, Robotic Eagle

             

            Additional Awards

            Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the San Francisco Regional! See the list here.

            FIRST Robotics Competition – San Diego Regional

            FIRST Robotics Competition – San Diego Regional

            by | Apr 7, 2025 | Blog, San Diego

            The FIRST Robotics Competition San Diego Regional presented by Qualcomm, held March 20-23, 2025, featured 51 teams and 1,500+ students from California with one team coming all the way from Chinese Taipei.

            It was a celebration of innovation, recognition, and community highlighting not only the talent of our teams but also the incredible support behind them. Here’s a look at some of the standout moments from this milestone event:

            • Official Recognition: We were honored with multiple state and county proclamations, including the declaration of Women in STEM Day and STEAM Robotics Day from California Assemblymember Carl DeMaio and Supervisor Joel Anderson’s office, plus a state certificate of recognition from California Assemblymember Darshana Patel.
            • Qualcomm Innovation Grant: A $10,000 innovation grant from Qualcomm was awarded to three standout teams – The Holy Cows, SuperNURDs, and Overclocked.
            • Alumni Event: FIRST alumni enjoyed bingo, cookies, and inspiring talks from professionals at Qualcomm and NAVWAR/NIWC, fostering connections and career insights.
            • Women in STEM “Table Talk”: Eleven accomplished STEM professionals joined us to share their journeys, advice, and inspiration in a dynamic roundtable setting.
            • Mentor Breakfast: A special moment to celebrate and support the mentors who guide and uplift their teams every step of the way.
            • Double Honors for Ryan Griggs: Mentor of Team 2485 Overclocked, Ryan Griggs, received both the Woodie Flowers Finalist Award and was named Volunteer of the Year – a true embodiment of generosity, leadership and dedication.
            • Qualcomm + FIRST Trivia Fun: Throughout the weekend, the audience stayed engaged with fun Qualcomm and FIRST trivia – and one lucky student even won a pair of Ray-Ban Meta glassses!

            Thank you to everyone who made the San Diego Regional such a meaningful and memorable event. Here’s to 19 years of impact!

            View Event Photo Gallery

            Thank you Ken Woo for these incredible 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, #REEFSCAPE and #FIRSTDIVE.

            LIST OF TEAMS ADVANCING TO CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HOUSTON!!!

            The following teams and individuals earned top honors at the San Diego Regional and earned their way to compete at the FIRST Championships in Houston, April 16-19, 2025.

            FIRST Impact Award

            The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.

            The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture. The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

            To help bring STEM to more students, this team developed a new curriculum to meet their school time constraints. They focused on lowering the barrier to entry by teaching core robotics principles with a simplified bot. They expanded their tools and teachings to other school districts across grades K-12. Over a few short years, they’ve proactively started multiple FLL & FTC teams, and shared technical and financial know-how with fellow FRC competitors. Their name may be a game, but they make a serious impact.

            • Team 8020, CyberpunK from Chinese Taipei

                Engineering Inspiration

                The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school or organization, and community. Inspiring others to respect science and technology requires passion, knowledge and commitment, and we recognize these qualities through this award. This team will advance to the Championships.

                This team is ready for WAR. They – wait a minute, I need to tweak this script. Take two: this team went above and beyond to expand their local and global horizons. With their CADathons and curriculum integration with their school district, they clock in all year-round.

                •  Team 2485, Overclocked from San Diego, CA

                 

                Regional Winners Qualifying for Championship

                • Team 1538, The Holy Cows from San Diego, CA
                • Team 3255, SuperNURDs from Escondido, CA

                The Dean’s List Finalist

                In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

                • Benjamin T, Team 9730, Metal Maniacs
                • Simeon K, Team 2658, Σ-Motion

                Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

                FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

                In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

                Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

                Many mentors have been impactful on their teams, often putting in long hours and encouraging everyone to achieve the best effort they can find. This mentor certainly fits this description. Not being content with working within their own team they encourage outreach and work with other FIRST programs and lead by example giving even more time as a key volunteer at events, including the ones hosted by the team. While many of us look for the magic that makes FIRST what it is, this mentor has created his own magic and shared this secret with his team.

                • Ryan, Griggs, Team 2485, Overclocked

                Additional Awards

                Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the San Diego Regional! See the list here.

                FIRST Robotics Competition – Los Angeles Regional

                FIRST Robotics Competition – Los Angeles Regional

                by | Apr 7, 2025 | Blog, Los Angeles

                The FIRST Robotics Competition Los Angeles Regional, held March 13-16, 2025, featured 44 teams and 1,300+ students from California.

                The Los Angeles Regional was extra special this year as we celebrated 25 seasons of FIRST in LA! From thrilling matches to nostalgic moments, the weekend was packed with energy, excitement, and community spirit.

                Here are some highlights from the celebration:

                • 25th Season Celebration: We marked a quarter-century of FIRST in Los Angeles with pride, honoring the legacy and growth of our incredible region.
                • Game Piece Museum: A walk down memory lane! Attendees explored a showcase of FRC game pieces from the past 25 years.
                • 25-Year Trivia: Teams tested their knowledge of LA Regional history with fun trivia challenges throughout the event.
                • Alumni Mixer: FIRST alumni (and soon to be alumni) reconnected over bingo and sweet treats.

                Thank you to our teams, mentors, volunteers, alumni, and sponsors for helping us honor 25 years of innovation, collaboration, and Gracious Professionalism.

                View Event Photo Gallery

                Thank you Matt and Lily for these incredible photos! Please considering giving photo credit (tag) to @mattbeardphotos when you share.

                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, #REEFSCAPE and #FIRSTDIVE.

                LIST OF TEAMS ADVANCING TO CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HOUSTON!!!

                The following teams and individuals earned top honors at the San Diego Regional and earned their way to compete at the FIRST Championships in Houston, April 16-19, 2025.

                FIRST Impact Award

                The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.

                The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture. The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

                This team has taken a deep DIVE into what it means to create an impact. They started small at school, then expanded their reach by training new coaches and securing funds to grow the FIRST network across their school district. With confidence, persistence, and professionalism, they have inspired everyone from toddlers to city officials. They may be NERDY, but this small robotics team is certainly mighty!

                • Team 5089, Robonerds from Los Angeles

                    Engineering Inspiration

                     The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school or organization, and community. Inspiring others to respect science and technology requires passion, knowledge and commitment, and we recognize these qualities through this award. This team will advance to the Championships.

                    This team’s strong media presence SPARKS the discovery of FIRST and STEM. Their yearn for knowledge beyond robotics IGNITES hope. Through running summer camps and creating many robotics teams in their country, they flamed of inspiration for many. They are passing the torch to the next generations. “BONNE CHANCE!”

                    •  Team 5553, Robo’Lyon

                     

                    Regional Winners Qualifying for Championship

                    • Team 9408, Warbots
                    • Team 1197, Torbots

                     

                    The Dean’s List Finalist

                    In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

                    • Destiny R, Team 597, Wolverines
                    • Eylul D, Team 7840, Emoner Robotics

                    Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

                    FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

                    In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

                    Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

                    This mentor teaches seeing the big picture to assist with breaking down barriers within the team and in the process building well rounded individuals.  Success comes from systems and creating the ability to check in with each other.  No matter the team, this mentor is always field side looking to offer assistance to teams after they leave the field.  

                    • Andrew Kempen, Team 4201, The Vitruvian Bots

                    Additional Awards

                    Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the Los Angeles Regional! See the list here.

                    FIRST Robotics Competition – Sacramento Regional

                    FIRST Robotics Competition – Sacramento Regional

                    by | Apr 7, 2025 | Blog, sacramento

                    The FIRST Robotics Competition Sacramento Regional, held March 14-17, 2025, featured 34 teams and 1,100+ students from California.

                    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, #REEFSCAPE and #FIRSTDIVE.

                    LIST OF TEAMS ADVANCING TO CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HOUSTON!!!

                    The following teams and individuals earned top honors at the San Diego Regional and earned their way to compete at the FIRST Championships in Houston, April 16-19, 2025.

                    FIRST Impact Award

                    The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.

                    The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture. The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

                    This year’s winning team has built a remarkably sustainable program, empowering students year after year to excel in STEM fields. With an impressive outreach program that has reached over 6,000 students, they’ve partnered with local schools and a museum to spark curiosity — even creating a memorable yellow bug robot for children to explore engineering concepts. Known for their unwavering commitment to promoting women in STEM and proudly representing their red, white, and blue colors with the strength of true patriots, this team’s impact has left a lasting mark. 

                    • Team 4135, Iron Patriots from Modesto, CA

                      Engineering Inspiration

                      The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school or organization, and community. Inspiring others to respect science and technology requires passion, knowledge and commitment, and we recognize these qualities through this award. This team will advance to the Championships.

                      This year, the Engineering Inspiration Award is presented to a team that has truly exemplified what it means to be an ambassador of STEM education in their local community through numerous impactful outreach efforts. This team has engaged in a wide variety of initiatives that have significantly advanced not only their program but have had quantifiable impact with many students in their community. This team have SWOOPED down from their NEST and impacted over 3000 students, significantly raising awareness about the importance of STEM. Their commitment to inclusivity ensures that every student, regardless of their background or abilities, has the opportunity to explore the exciting world of engineering. They partner with local schools, providing mentorship and guidance to younger students. They have host numerous outreach events, including FLL tournaments, co-host an off-season FRC competition, developed a six week summer camp for low-income, minority families, and a program to educate students with disabilities centered around STEM and robotics. For their outstanding commitment to fostering a love for engineering and technology within their community, and for their unique and impactful outreach programs, we are proud to present the Engineering Inspiration Award to Team 2073, EagleForce.

                      • Team 2073, EagleForce from Elk Grove, CA

                      Regional Winners

                      • Team 1678, Citrus Circuits from Davis, CA
                      • Team 254, The Cheesy Poofs from San Jose, CA 

                      The Dean’s List Finalist

                      In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

                      • Aarav P, Team 199, Deep Blue
                      • Yunah B, Team 6665, C-Otters

                      Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

                      FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

                      In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

                      Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

                      • Kenneth Davis – Team 3598, SEStematics Eliminators 

                      Additional Awards

                      Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the Sacramento Regional! See the list here.

                      FIRST Robotics Competition – Silicon Valley Regional

                      FIRST Robotics Competition – Silicon Valley Regional

                      by | Apr 7, 2025 | Blog, Silicon Valley

                      The Silicon Valley Regional, held March 13-16, 2025, brought together 37 incredible teams—36 from across California and one all the way from Hawaii—for a weekend full of energy, innovation, and inspiring moments at a brand-new venue: Woodside High School.

                      Here are just a few highlights from this exciting event:

                      •  Women in STEM Event: Four amazing engineers from Tesla joined us to share their journeys in STEM and connect with around 40 young women. They even surprised attendees with cupcakes!
                      • Mentor Lunch: Nearly 80 mentors came together to network, exchange ideas, and celebrate their impact on the next generation of innovators.
                      • PG&E engaged with students throughout the event, offering great conversations, career insights, and swag.
                      • Johnson & Johnson wowed attendees with live demos of the Monarch surgical robot, showcasing cutting-edge technology all weekend long.
                      • Analyst Desk: Live commentary and match analysis kept the audience engaged and informed throughout the event.
                      • Trivia during breaks kept the fun going between matches.

                      From inspiring outreach to world-class competition, the Silicon Valley Regional was a true celebration of the spirit of FIRST. Huge thanks to our teams, volunteers, mentors, and sponsors for making it all happen!

                      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, #REEFSCAPE and #FIRSTDIVE.

                      LIST OF TEAMS ADVANCING TO CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HOUSTON!!!

                      The following teams and individuals earned top honors at the San Diego Regional and earned their way to compete at the FIRST Championships in Houston, April 16-19, 2025.

                      FIRST Impact Award

                      The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.

                      The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture. The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

                      This team empowers girls and other underrepresented groups through workshops, summer camps, and robot demos, showing them what’s possible and paving their way to join the FRC community. Their work to expand STEM curriculum at their school has opened opportunities for every student and including both AP classes and industry certifications as educational options ensures that their graduates are fully equipped for college, trade school, or the workforce. Perhaps it is fitting that this team works out of a woodshop, since their impact is TREE-mendous and they are nailing it! Keep striving for the summit and mahalo for your impact on your community. 

                      • Team 3880 – Tiki Techs from Hawaii

                        Engineering Inspiration

                        The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school or organization, and community. Inspiring others to respect science and technology requires passion, knowledge and commitment, and we recognize these qualities through this award. This team will advance to the Championships.

                        This team has been ROARING with creativity shaping future STEM leaders for over two decades. They’ve CLAWED their way through challenges and shown younger CUBS the BEAR necessities of robotics and engineering. They’ve left TRACKS across the FIRST community with an open-source scouting app that paws-itively benefits teams everywhere through crowd-sourced data. And speaking of rookies, their wildly successful rookie training competition has brought mechanical mayhem in the best possible way. Their enthusiasm and dedication are simply un-bear-able. Please join me in congratulating Team 766, the M-A Bears!

                        • Team 766, M-A Bears from Atherton, CA

                        Regional Winners Qualifying for Championship

                        • Team 1323, MadTown Robotics from Madera, CA
                        • Team 5940, BREAD from Redwood City, CA

                        The Dean’s List Finalist

                        In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

                        • Simon P, Team 581, Blazing Bulldogs
                        • Thunder F, Team 8048, East Palo Alto Churrobots

                        Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

                        FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

                        In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

                        Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

                        This mentor detests giving advice overtly and rather poses his advice in the form of questions, creating steppingstones that guide us to the best solutions for our problems. He fosters an environment of mutual respect, collaboration, and support. He always creates opportunities for learning. No matter how far into the season. He is a true mentor, always bringing adventure and seeking out ways to make a difference in the lives of those around him.

                        • Roy Dumlao, Team 2854,The Prototypes

                        Additional Awards

                        Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the Silicon Valley Regional! See the list here.

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