|
|
|
News Release
|
|
|
CONTACT: |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 11, 2025 |
Los Angeles Unified Robotics Teams Qualify for Prestigious International Competition
Foshay and International Studies secure spots in Houston
Los Angeles, CA (April 11, 2025) – From student clubs to the pinnacle of international competition, two robotics teams from Los Angeles Unified will have a chance to show their engineering and programming skills on a world stage.
The James A. Foshay Learning Center and the International Studies Learning Center will represent Los Angeles Unified at the 2025 FIRST Championship. The event, which will take place April 16 to 19 in Houston, is expected to attract more than 600 teams nationwide and from dozens of other countries. The competition is the “Super Bowl” for this style of robotics, and draws tens of thousands of people.
“Our students are programming their way to success," Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said. “Both teams are engineering their destinies, creating robots and building bridges to their futures. They have shown exceptional skills, innovative thinking and remarkable teamwork. Congratulations to them both!”
For the third year in a row, Los Angeles Unified has sent a pair of robotics teams to the international contest. Such success reflects Los Angeles Unified’s rising prowess in teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics, better known as STEM. Through technical education, students develop skills increasingly valued in technical and non-technical careers.
Darryl Newhouse, a longtime Foshay teacher and robotics coach, instills those academic values into teenagers and sees the change first-hand. “They are the role models for our community of underserved and low-income students,” he said of his South Los Angeles students,” he said.
It is the second Foshay team he has coached to the FIRST Championship. “These tournaments have provided the energy for students to strive for excellence and discover the wonderful world of robotics as they develop skill sets, such as problem-solving, critical and analytical thinking, communication, and resilience."
At the International Studies Learning Center, teacher Rosario Leuterio beamed with pride as the school's robotics team prepared to showcase their community on the biggest stage. “My students are especially proud of being the first team from South Gate, who will represent Los Angeles Unified in the FTC World Championship,” she said.
Winning a trip to Houston was no easy feat. Foshay and International emerged as the top teams after enduring grueling competition against 68 district teams. Then, earlier this month, for Los Angeles Unified’s biggest robotics event, students gathered under the bright lights of Benjamin Franklin Senior High School's gymnasium before a lively crowd as teams worked feverishly to showcase their skills.
Superintendent Carvalho observed closely as teams navigated their custom-built robots through this year's challenge. Students demonstrated months of intense design, intricate programming, and careful planning as they maneuvered their robots to stack cubes or lob them toward a target, among other tasks.
Los Angeles Unified judges praised the International Studies team, known as the “Robolutionaries,” for excelling in all areas of robotics and earning the “Innovate Award,” the top prize. Foshay earned the “Control Award,” displaying their automation and programming abilities. The squad also finished as runner-up for the “Innovate Award.”
The contest highlighted the continuing collaboration between Los Angeles Unified and the i.am Angel Foundation, a charity founded by Grammy-winning artist, tech entrepreneur and philanthropist will.i.am. He has consistently advocated and funded for broader STEM access in schools.
“With robotics clubs, boys and girls can learn valuable STEM skills and how to work in teams – knowledge that helps secure college scholarships and, eventually, high-paying jobs.” said will.i.am. “With FIRST Robotics, every child can be a winner in school, work, and life. My mission is to put a robotics club in every public school, and we are off to a great start with this new program in Los Angeles.”
For the most up-to-date information, please follow Los Angeles Unified on Twitter/X at @laschools and @lausdsup, Instagram at @laschools and @lausdsup, Facebook at @laschools and @AlbertoMCarvalho1, and Bluesky at @laschools.bsky.social and @lausdsup.bsky.social.
###
