On Sunday, Nov. 10, de Toledo High School hosted a FIRST LEGO League Robotics Tournament, an exciting event that brought together young minds from elementary and middle schools across Los Angeles. The tournament featured 24 teams, all showcasing their passion for robotics.
These students, ranging from third to eighth grade, designed and built LEGO robots, and the teams had to create innovative solutions for a pressing global issue. This year’s theme was exploring the ocean.
Students brainstormed ideas ranging from tracking submarines underwater to innovative submarine technologies, demonstrating an understanding of ocean exploration challenges. One of the event organizers, Jack T. (’25), said, “These are elementary schoolers coming up with ideas that are super advanced and very relevant. It’s amazing to see their potential.”
The competition field raged with energy when the teams showed off their robots across four different fields while presenting their ideas to a diverse panel of judges. Judges included educators, STEM professionals, and even high school robotics students.
Months of planning went into the event, with around 40 volunteers, including 20 high school students, helping to ensure everything ran smoothly. “This was a huge milestone for us,” shared Jack. “We’re looking forward to expanding next year, hosting a regional qualifier with up to 40 teams.”
Out of the 24 teams that competed, 16 advanced to regionals, where they’ll have a chance to qualify for championships.
Jack, a passionate advocate for STEM education, shared his personal connection to the program: “I competed in FIRST LEGO League as a kid, and it’s what sparked my love for STEM,” Jack said. “The skills I learned then shaped my path and led me to work on real-world projects today. It’s incredibly rewarding to see these kids starting their journeys the same way.”
The tournament was a way to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators. Statistics show that 60% of FIRST LEGO League participants continue with robotics in high school, and 90% of those students pursue STEM fields later in their lives.
