Georgia Brown Dual Immersion Robotics Team Advances to State Championships
Georgia Brown Elementary's brand-new robotics program is already making waves! Two teams—a 4th grade elementary team and a junior high team of 6th and 7th graders—competed at the Santa Maria Winter Wonderland Robotics Open Competition and brought home four top awards. Plus, the GBDI elementary team is on their way to State!
The elementary team earned Overall Teamwork Champion, Robot Skills Champion, and Design Award for their robot “Lobster,” which scored more than twice as many points as the next competitor.
The junior high team earned the Innovation Award for their robot “Bot-Zilla,” which posted the highest autonomous score of all 46 teams competing.
By winning in Santa Maria, the elementary team qualified for the Southern California State Championships at UC Irvine this March—an incredible achievement in their very first year!
The students are now working to raise $2,000 to help cover travel, registration, and equipment upgrades for the State competition.
“Our students are fired up, and I’m doing everything I can to keep up with their energy and ambition,” said Robotics Club Advisor and Science Teacher Jon-Paul Ewing. “They’re already brainstorming ways to make their designs even stronger for State. The community’s support makes all of this possible.”
We couldn’t be prouder of these young engineers and the community who helped launch this new program, including the Paso Robles Education Association, the Georgia Brown PTO, GBDI Principal Cristina Velasco, Robotics Club Advisor and Science Teacher Mr. Ewing, and all the families who support and encourage their student every day of the year!
Community members interested in contributing to the team's trip to State Championships and the purchase of new pneumatic kits can contact Mr. Ewing.
KSBY caught up with the GBDI Robotics Teams to get their perspective on their breakout performance—click the link to watch their story on YouTube.