Recapping the 2024–25 i.am FIRST x LAUSD Robotics Season
That’s a wrap on another successful FIRST Robotics season with FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)!
Since 2021, the i.am Angel Foundation has been instrumental in bringing STEM programs to over 400 LAUSD schools, impacting more than 12,000 students.
Our mission is to provide underserved communities with the tools and opportunities to thrive in a technology-driven world, and in partnership with LAUSD, we continue to nurture the next generation of leaders and foster incredible opportunities for our student community, especially through FIRST Robotics. FIRST robotics is a global community preparing young people for the future and the world’s leading youth-serving nonprofit in advancing STEM education.
During the 2024-2025 FIRST Robotics season, LAUSD and the i.am Angel Foundation supported 76 FTC teams for their challenge, INTO THE DEEP℠ presented by RTX Resources. LAUSD operates regionally, which produces a North, South, East, and West Region, and thereafter, culminating at the LAUSD District Championship. Through this model, we executed 4 scrimmages in the Fall semester, and 4 qualifier tournaments in the Spring semester, leading to the Championship on March 1st, 2025 at Franklin High School. Each qualifier tournament advanced 5-7 FTC teams to the LAUSD District Championship, where the Technobots from Foshay Learning Center and the Robolutionaries from International Studies Learning Center advanced to the FIRST World Championship in Houston, TX.
Alongside these teams, we supported and collaborated with various FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams in their challenge, REEFSCAPE℠ presented by Haas, and to execute a successful FTC season. Through the growing LAUSD FIRST Robotics pipeline, FRC teams like Team 5089, The Robo-Nerds from Franklin High School, have been champions in leading workshops, scrimmages, qualifier tournaments, and even the LAUSD District Championship! Through their outstanding sportsmanship, teamwork, and persistence, the Robo-Nerds took home the Impact Award at the Los Angeles FRC Regionals, which landed them a spot at the FIRST World Championship.
At the World Championships, our teams saw great success and brought home invaluable awards! The Robo-Nerds from Franklin High School’s FRC team, ranking 12 out of 75 in their division, were a finalist for the FRC Impact Award, which is the highest award that any FRC team can win. The Robolutionaries from International Studies Learning Center brought home the Judges Choice Award from their Division.
None of this would be possible without support from the Los Angeles Unified School District. Season after season, they’ve championed STEAM education, ensuring students from low-income communities have the resources and opportunities to apply these skills and explore an advanced field of STEAM careers. The i.am Angel Foundation is proud to support such an incredible program and amazing school district that continues to change the lives of thousands of students in the Los Angeles community. We look forward to unveiling and taking on the new season ahead: FIRST® AGE™ presented by Qualcomm, the 2025-2026 robotics season inspired by archaeology.
— Written by Amy La
