LAUSD Robotics Teams Shine at FIRST Championship in Houston

We are excited to share that two teams from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and i.am Angel Foundation FIRST Tech Challenge Program advanced from the District Championship to the FIRST Championship in Houston.

This prestigious competition brings together the best teams from around the world to compete. Team 20626 from Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies (SOCES) and Team 20524 from Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences (VAAS) represented the district at the tournament in April.

Pascal H., a student and robotics team member from SOCES, reflected on his experience in Houston: “Being able to attend the FIRST World Championships was another milestone in my team’s history and a great reward for all the hard work we put in throughout the year. For me, it was the culmination of all our trials and tribulations through competitions, redesigns, and personal struggles, even through mechanical failures and design iterations.”

Henry G., another SOCES student and robotics team member, shared his thoughts: “When you’re told you’ll be traveling halfway across the country to go to an international robotics competition to compete with the best of the best, expectations start astronomically high. I can safely say that FTC Worlds was everything I had anticipated and more. The opportunity to work and compete side-by-side with the top robotics teams in the world was not only exciting and fun but also extremely challenging and educational.”

Coach Anthony Milanes from VAAS highlighted his favorite moments: “The biggest highlight from the trip was seeing my students’ faces light up with joy and excitement from having an amazing time while engaging with all the World Championship had to offer. More specifically, seeing the students strategizing with and learning from students and coaches from around the United States and the world was inspiring.”

Apart from competing, VAAS’s team enjoyed a tour of the NASA Space Center in South Houston. Students explored various exhibits, including a full-size Saturn V rocket and a NASA space shuttle attached to a Boeing 747.

We can confidently say that the students from SOCES and VAAS had a rewarding and fun experience. We cannot wait to see what Team 20626 from Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies and Team 20524 from Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences will come up with in the next season!