A group of twelve high school students from a school in Envigado, Antioquia, won an important recognition at the youth robotics world championship in the United States, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST). The group, called Lightning Blue Lizards, participated in the FIRST Robotics Competition category, for youths between 14 and 18 years old.
The Columbus School team received the Engineering Inspiration Award. The Lightning Blue Lizards had previously participated in the regional youth robotics competition, First Robotics Competition (FRC), in Miami. In that competition, they obtained the Engineering Inspiration Award, one of the three most important prizes. That award qualified them directly for the youth robotics world championship.
“Together, these awards celebrate much more than technical excellence. They recognize the impact our students generate in others through leadership, collaboration, and service,” the educational institution proudly reported.
Awakening curiosity, confidence, and possibilities
The Engineering Inspiration Award, received in the regional competition in the state of Florida, reflects the team’s commitment to expanding access to STEM and robotics through initiatives developed together with the school’s Foundation and partner schools.
“By working with younger students and communities with fewer opportunities, our students are awakening curiosity, confidence, and new possibilities in areas that often seem distant or inaccessible,” the school added. “Their efforts demonstrate that innovation reaches its greatest value when it creates pathways for others.”
Twelve students and two teachers traveled to the world championship, where they faced an additional challenge: disassembling some parts of the robot for the airplane trip and assembling it again in Houston.
More than 19,000 students from different countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, and the United States participated in FIRST. Every year, FIRST organizes its robotics season around a specific theme, challenging students to apply science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to the real world.
This season was inspired by archaeology, “inviting teams to explore how discoveries from the past can serve as the foundation for innovation in the future,” according to its website.
Recognition for enthusiasm, energy, and commitment
Among the variety of recognitions awarded, the Lightning Blue Lizards team received the Team Spirit Award, a recognition that celebrates enthusiasm, energy, and commitment. It also takes into account collaboration, support, and interaction with other teams, demonstrating the spirit of unity.
These actions reflect the understanding that true success is not measured solely by individual achievements, but also by the positive impact we generate on those around us.
The Columbus School had only participated once before in that world championship, and it was in 2019. Despite their efforts and presentations in other competitions, the opportunity to return to a world-level event had not come their way. It was only after seven years that they were able to qualify again and even win a distinction that will remain in the institution’s display cases and in the memory of the winners.
“These recognitions also highlight the values we seek to cultivate as a school: responsibility, respect, inclusion, and citizenship,” the school continues in its statement. “The strong participation and leadership of girls within the team also reinforces our commitment to equity and representation in engineering and innovation.”
For the educational institution, more than prizes, these moments reflect the kind of people their students are becoming: conscious leaders who use their talents to inspire, serve, and generate meaningful change.