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.

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