The REACH Foundation’s FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Robotics Program has achieved unprecedented success, sending two Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD) teams to international competitions after outperforming more than 550 teams across Southern California.
Kraemer Middle School’s Control+Alt+Elite earned the coveted Champions Award, the highest honor at the California Southern Region Championships. The team demonstrated excellence across all competition areas—Robot Performance, Robot Design, Research Innovation Project, and Core Values. With an outstanding robot performance score of 500 points out of a possible 545 and a first-place overall ranking among 550 teams, Control+Alt+Elite has advanced to the World Championships in Houston, Texas, where they will compete against top teams from 66 countries from April 29–May 2.
Travis Ranch’s F.I.R.E. Sharks were recognized with the Core Values Award, honoring their exceptional collaboration, resilience, and team spirit. After winning three championship titles at the Spring Showdown Tournament, Qualifiers, and Regionals—and earning top honors at the California Southern Region Championships—the F.I.R.E. Sharks secured a place at the World Invitational in Ontario, Canada, taking place June 17–20.
These remarkable achievements are a testament to the strength of our community, the dedication and hard work of our students and coaches, school administrators and district leadership. Together, they reflect PYLUSD’s strong commitment to STEAM education and student-led learning.
PYLUSD students are not just participating—they are engaging, innovating, and proving their ability to succeed on the world stage.
Congratulations to the Control+Alt+Elite Team Members and their Coaches: Samihan Shaligram (8th, KMS), Avaneesh Nangare (8th, KMS), Ian Yoon (8th, KMS), Zane Ahn (7th, KMS), Max Mills (7th, KMS), Raaghav Deoghare (7th, KMS), Derek Luu (7th, KMS), Austin Luu (5th, Golden Elementary), Coach Madhura Shaligram & Coach Mary Ahn.
Congrats to the F.I.R.E. Sharks Travis Ranch Trailblazers and their Coaches: Katherine Pak (8th), Abigail Mulkey (8th), Chloe Hibbard (7th), Kensey Yoshida (7th), Jona Turin (6th), Timothy Kello (5th), Bobby Parada-Martinez (4th), Coach Heather Mulkey, Coach David Hibbard, and Coach Heather Hibbard.
The REACH Foundation will be fundraising to support competition and travel expenses for our teams. Our special thanks to Mr. Eddie Tabata, Mrs. Kristen Petrovacki, and Mr. Matthew Callaway for their continuous support of the REACH Foundation FLL Robotics Program.
The REACH FLL Spring Showdown classes begin in March. Visit REACH4PYLUSD.org for more information.
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