Year 2 Accomplishments (2024-2025)

The Robolutionaries (our robotics team) began three years ago although they only got to competitions since last year.  They joined their first competition with the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) last year winning Inspire, Control and Connect Awards during the local and regional tournaments.   On their second year of joining the tournaments, they won the most coveted INSPIRE Award both in the local and regional tournaments and were also ranked first in the robotics playoffs during Qualifying Tournament.  This led to them being invited to represent the Los Angeles Unified School District at the FTC Worlds Championships on April 16 - 19, 2025 at Houston, Texas.  

The Robolutionaries consists of 10 students and 2 teacher sponsors will be attending the FIRST Tech Challenge 2025 Championships in Houston, TX on April and will compete with over 500 teams from 50 countries around the world.

Quotes: 

“What stood out to the judges about the team’s creation? What award was received? (Inspire, Think, Connect, Innovate or other ones?”

This is our second year of joining FTC-LAUSD Championship.  On our rookie year, we won 2nd place INSPIRE, CONNECT Award and CONTROL Award, 2nd place.  This year we won the most prestigious and top award: INSPIRE Award.  Whoever wins this award cannot win in any other categories because winning INSPIRE means that your team has been considered in three or more other categories, that is why you are worthy of the INSPIRE award.

The team have joyfully and successfully presented their accomplishments for the year through a PORTFOLIO that documents their engineering and design process in building an elegant and efficient robot; team’s goals for developing each team member’s skills; connecting with other professionals and mentors to learn from; how to be ambassadors for FIRST programs and showing evidence of lessons learned from all activities undertaken to improve future events and to be better students and team players overall.

Everyone of us was overjoyed because it was our goal for the year.  We did several outreach programs that define the mission of FIRST—For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.  The team donated time and energy to inspiring, spreading and sparking interests for STEM to other students not only from our school and our community but also to students outside of the country.  I pride myself in coaching a bunch of students (14) who are very enthusiastic about learning beyond the classrooms.  They have the initiative, perseverance and positive disposition amid challenges that they are facing not just in building and coding the robot but also with solving logistic, funding and business side of running a robotics team.

 “What does this opportunity mean for the robotics program?”

My students are especially proud of being the first team from South Gate who will represent LAUSD in the FTC Worlds Championship.  They hope to serve as role models and inspirations for the coming generations of students who should not let their economic states be a hindrance to accomplishing goals and to always do their best. 

 “What is your reaction to your team competing at the highest level?”

"Into the Deep was an exciting season that not only forced my team to think critically about our design approach and strategies with the unique game challenges, but it propelled us to build more complex mechanisms to optimize our performance.  It was very thrilling and insightful seeing the diverse range of approaches teams had to implement to accomplish their goals.” ---Maxsem Garcia, Team Captain of The ISLC Robolutionaries

"I was in the team for 2 years taking care of design, CAD and some 3-D printing.  My favorite part of FTC was being able to communicate with other teams—seeing them as support instead of opponents.  I would 100% recommend being in FTC because it not only promote STEM but develops skills outside of it such as business & communications, so anyone can be in a robotics team." ---Kailyn Sanchez, Lead Designer of The ISLC Robolutionaries

“When realizing we would be competing in the highest level for FTC, there was a moment of bliss for all of us because we put in many hours and days into the Robolution. It is not only a club but it is a movement to bring our community together through the world of STEM. It was also intense because last year we won second place for Inspire, so finally winning first place for Inspire, we felt recognized for our efforts.”---Jocelyn Lopez, Outreach Manage of The ISLC Robolotionaries

"The team worked hard and spent many sleepless nights to achieve their goals for the season.  I am so impressed by how much team effort they have shown.  Not everything worked as expected but they surely gave their all--did their very best and deserved the INSPIRE award". ---Ms. Rosario Leuterio, coach1 of The ISLC Robolutionaries

“Coming into this robotics season with a year under our belt, I knew we would be a much improved team. From the start, I believed we had what it took to make it to Worlds in Houston, and through hard work, dedication, and sacrifice, we made it happen. I couldn’t be prouder of this incredible accomplishment. Way to go, Team Robolutionaries!”---Mr. Kenny Lau, coach2 of The ISLC Robolutionaries