FIRST Robotics Competition – East Bay District Event, 2026

FIRST Robotics Competition – East Bay District Event, 2026

by | Apr 15, 2026 | Blog, East Bay

From April 2–4, Berkeley High School came alive with innovation, energy, and teamwork as more than 1,200 students and 40 robotics teams gathered for the FIRST Robotics Competition East Bay District Event.

Over three action-packed days, students designed, built, and competed with industrial-sized robots, showcasing not only technical skill, but the collaboration, creativity, and resilience that define the FIRST community.

More Than Robots in the East Bay

The East Bay District Event was a powerful example of how FIRST is truly More Than Robots. It’s a place where students gain real-world experience in engineering, teamwork, and leadership while building confidence and community.

From intense matches on the field to collaboration in the pits, teams embodied Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition, supporting one another while striving for excellence.

Spotlight on Partnership: Empowerly

A highlight of the event was the presence of Empowerly, who connected directly with students and families through an on-site booth.

Founder Changxiao Xie also helped kick off the event, sharing insights and inspiration with participants during opening ceremonies. His message reinforced the importance of access, mentorship, and pathways to future success, values that closely align with the FIRST mission of preparing young people for the future.

This kind of engagement reflects the growing ecosystem around FIRST California, where partners play a critical role in supporting students and helping them explore what’s possible beyond the competition field.

Awards

  • Impact Award Winner: Team 3256 – WarriorBorgs
  • Winning Alliance: Team 4698 – Raider Robotics; Team 841 – BioMechs; Team 1854 – The Chomp Bots
  • Leadership Award Semi-Finalists: Bhavya D with WarriorBorgs Team 3256; Brody I with SF UNITY Team 9038
  • Engineering Inspiration: Team 5419 – Berkelium
  • Full Awards List: 2026 Awards

Building the Future, Together

Events like the East Bay District competition highlight the impact of hands-on STEM experiences. Students are not just building robots. They are building skills in problem solving, communication, and leadership that prepare them for college, careers, and life.

With the support of mentors, volunteers, and partners, FIRST continues to create opportunities for students across California to discover their potential and shape their futures.

Be Part of the Impact

  • Get involved as a mentor, volunteer, or sponsor
  • Support local teams and events
  • Help expand access to STEM opportunities across California

Together, we are building the next generation of innovators, leaders, and change makers.

Thank You!

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

Photo Gallery

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

Alumni Mixer at SoCal District Championship

by | Apr 8, 2026 | Blog

FIRST Alumni and FIRST Seniors

 Come on down field-side for a:

  • chance to win a PRIZE

  • connect with a Talent Aquisition rep from Qualcomm

  • sweet treat and FIRST California alumni sticker

  • group photo

  • opportunity to hang out with fellow FIRST alumni and soon-to-be alumni

DATE: Saturday, April 11, 2026
TIME: 12:15pm
LOCATION: Next to the field

* Please do not use your school email address

Sign Up to Join the Alumni Mixer

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By joining the Alumni Mixer, you will also be signed up for the FIRST California Alumni network and will occasionally receive info about events and opportunities.

FIRST Robotics Competition – San Gabriel Valley District Event, 2026

FIRST Robotics Competition – San Gabriel Valley District Event, 2026

by | Apr 8, 2026 | Blog

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Gallery

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

FIRST Robotics Competition – San Diego District Event, 2026

FIRST Robotics Competition – San Diego District Event, 2026

by | Apr 8, 2026 | Blog, San Diego

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is what FIRST is all about.

Photo Gallery

Thank you Ken Woo for these wonderful photos!

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

FIRST Robotics Competition – Los Angeles District Event, 2026

FIRST Robotics Competition – Los Angeles District Event, 2026

by | Apr 8, 2026 | Blog, Los Angeles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Gallery

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

FIRST Robotics Competition – Pinnacles District Event, 2026

FIRST Robotics Competition – Pinnacles District Event, 2026

by | Apr 8, 2026 | Blog, Pinnacles

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Gallery Coming Soon

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

FIRST Robotics Competition – Ventura District Event, 2026

FIRST Robotics Competition – Ventura District Event, 2026

by | Mar 30, 2026 | Blog, Ventura

The FIRST Robotics Competition Ventura County District Event, held March 13–15, 2026, at the Ventura College Sportsplex, brought together 36 high school teams and 1,000+ students for an action-packed weekend of FIRST® AGE™ REBUILT™ competition on the Ventura coast.

The opening ceremony featured remarks from Michael Ladner, Deputy Technical Director, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division, who drew a powerful connection between the teamwork and systems-thinking on the competition floor and the real-world demands of national defense.

Dr. Luca Lewis, Interim President of Ventura College, welcomed competitors and encouraged students to explore the STEM pathways and career opportunities available right in their own backyard.

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

The Ventura County District Event was a celebration of everything that makes FIRST more than just robotics. A heartfelt thank you to all teams, mentors, volunteers, sponsors, and to Ventura College for being such a wonderful host!

Photo Gallery

Thank you Rene Haro for this excellent photos!

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

FIRST Robotics Competition – San Francisco District Event, 2026

FIRST Robotics Competition – San Francisco District Event, 2026

by | Mar 30, 2026 | Blog, San Francisco

The FIRST Robotics Competition San Francisco District Event, held March 13–15, 2026, at St. Ignatius College Preparatory, brought together 40 high school teams and 1,200+ students for a thrilling weekend of FIRST® AGE™ REBUILT™ competition in the heart of San Francisco.

Beyond the competition, this year’s event was a standout for the creativity and community spirit on display throughout the weekend:

  • Emcee Training in Action: Blair from FIRST HQ served as our emcee and used the event as a hands-on training opportunity for several new emcees and game announcers. It was an incredible investment in the future of FIRST California events and the crowd energy showed it!
  • Loan a Photographer Program: FIRST California piloted a brand-new “Loan a Photographer” initiative at San Francisco, and it was a hit. Teams that didn’t have media students of their own were paired with photographers, giving them access to professional-quality photos and video, many for the first time. Expect to see this program grow!
  • Gracious Professionalism® in Action – The BREAD Trash Contest: FRC Team 5940, BREAD, brought some extra spirit to the weekend by hosting a Trash Contest, challenging everyone to see who could pick up the most trash at the end of the day. Winners took home exclusive Team 5940 SWAG. It was a perfect example of FIRST‘s spirit of Gracious Professionalism® in action: competing hard and taking care of the community around you.

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

From the competition floor to the pit area, the San Francisco District Event reminded us why FIRST is more than just robotics. A huge thank you to all teams, mentors, volunteers, sponsors, and the incredible team at St. Ignatius for making this event a success!

Photo Gallery

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

FIRST Robotics Competition – Half Moon Bay District Event, 2026

FIRST Robotics Competition – Half Moon Bay District Event, 2026

by | Mar 30, 2026 | Blog

The inaugural FIRST Robotics Competition Half Moon Bay District Event, held March 6–8 at the Boys & Girls Club of the Coastside, brought the excitement of world-class robotics competition to Half Moon Bay for the very first time. Twenty-eight high school teams and 900+ students plus hundreds of mentors, volunteers and cheering spectators, filled the arena for a landmark weekend of innovation, collaboration, and FIRST® AGE™ REBUILT™ competition.

It was a debut weekend to remember and the robots did not disappoint. Teams set a record high score of 720 points over the course of the event, raising the bar for the entire California district season.

The weekend was made even more meaningful by the incredible community support and distinguished guests who joined us to celebrate this milestone event:

  • Opening Ceremony Speakers:

    • Dr. Ramon Miramontes, Superintendent, Cabrillo Unified School District
    • Supervisor Ray Mueller, Board of Supervisors of San Mateo County
    • Mark Newton, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club of Half Moon Bay
  • Special Recognition: Supervisor Ray Mueller presented FIRST California with an Official Commendation from the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, honoring our organization’s commitment to advancing STEM education in the region. It was a proud moment for our entire community!

The Half Moon Bay event is a shining example of what happens when schools, local leaders, youth-serving organizations, and the FIRST community come together around a shared vision — inspiring the next generation of innovators right in their own backyard.

A heartfelt thank you to all the teams, mentors, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners who helped make this first-ever event such a spectacular success. We can’t wait to come back!

The Half Moon Bay District Event is a shining example of what happens when schools, local leaders, youth-serving organizations and the FIRST community come together around a shared vision of inspiring the next generation of innovators right in their own backyard.

A heartfelt thank you to all the teams, mentors, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners who helped make this first-ever event such a spectacular success. We can’t wait to come back!

Photo Gallery

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

FIRST Robotics Competition – Hueneme Port District Event, 2026

FIRST Robotics Competition – Hueneme Port District Event, 2026

by | Mar 25, 2026 | Blog, Hueneme

The 2026 FIRST Robotics Competition Hueneme Port District Event, held March 6–8 at the Port of Hueneme, was an powerful celebration of innovation, teamwork, and STEM excellence. Hosted at the FATHOMWERX innovation lab, 42 high school teams along with hundreds of students, mentors, and spectators came together for a high-energy weekend of competition in the REBUILT™ challenge, where teams designed, built, and competed with industrial-sized robots showcasing real-world engineering skills.

Teams traveled from across California to participate, with the farthest team making the journey from Fresno.

The weekend featured inspiring moments that reflected the powerful partnership between education, industry, and community:

  • Opening Ceremony: Saturday’s ceremony brought together a distinguished lineup of community and government leaders:
    • Ventura County Supervisor Vianey Lopez
    • Port Hueneme Mayor Martha McQueen-Legohn
    • Representative from the Office of Senator Monique Limón
    • Representative from the Office of Assemblymember Steve Bennett
    • Representative from the Office of Congresswoman Julia Brownley
    • Port of Hueneme President Jason T. Hodge
  • Sunday Address: Pat Schuett, SES, Director AirWing I&I, NAWCWD, inspired participants and attendees with remarks on the importance of STEM and the next generation of innovators.
  • District Points in Play: As a Week 1 district event, teams competed not only for the win but for valuable district points toward qualification for the SoCal District Championship, raising the stakes and the energy throughout the weekend.
  • Impact Award Winner: Team 5817 – Team Unirex
  • Winning Alliance: Team 2637 – Phantom Catz, Team 3128 – Aluminum Narwhals, Team 1138 – Eagle Engineering
  • Leadership Award Semi-Finalists: Mira C with Team 1138 – Eagle Engineering and Vivian C with 2485 Overclocked
  • Awards: See all awards here

From the competition floor to the opening ceremony stage, the Hueneme Port District Event was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when students, mentors, volunteers, and community partners come together. A huge thank you to everyone who made this event possible!

Photos Coming

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

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