Armenia’s Team, called Armathronics 15, will take part in a robotics competition for the first time, when it goes head to head with a team from the High Tech Los Angeles Charter High School from Van Nuys.
The event, known as the FIRST Robotics Competition, will take place from March 6 to 9 at the Ventura Regional Competition, located at Port of Hueneme 333 Ponoma Street, Port Hueneme, Calif and is open to the public, free of charge, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Armathronics 15 was established by Team 4 ELEMENT, in association with the Armath STEM education program and Union of Advanced Technologies Enterprises.
Team 4, a robotics team from High Tech Los Angeles Charter High School in Van Nuys, maintains a large Armenian presence on the team and has always aimed to spread the joy, education, innovation, and opportunities that FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Sciences and Technologies) brings to students around the world. Their mission is to advance the impact of this program, create opportunities around the world, and support developing countries in fostering a brighter future.
Over the years, interest in STEM has continuously risen in Armenia. However, by 2024, the FIRST Robotics Competition had not yet been introduced. The mentor leading Team 4 “ELEMENT,” Arno Babahekian, who prioritized getting Armenia involved in the initiative, has been spearheading this project for several years.
“After countless efforts and setbacks, the journey to establish FIRST in Armenia has officially begun,” said Babahekian.
Supporting the first-ever FRC team in Armenia provides a unique opportunity to invest in the future of STEM education in the region. FIRST inspires students worldwide to dream big and combine hands-on learning with real-world problem-solving. The program will not only empower these students to develop critical, technical, and leadership skills but also foster a culture of innovation and collaboration that can transform their futures and the nation’s technological landscape.
The Armenia team is comprised of five boys and five girls, who will be flying to Los Angeles along with two adults mentors.Team 4’s goal is to mentor the team every step of the way, hosting bi-weekly Zoom meetings, sending a kit of parts at the beginning of the season, establishing a fundraising campaign to raise funds for their registration fee, and securing various donations including the Gene HAAS Foundation grant that paid for their travel expenses.
“This ground-breaking journey has been in the works for many years, and the time has finally come for the California diaspora community to welcome the international team,” said Babahekian, who invited the public to attend this milestone event.
“Come out and show your support by singing along to the Armenian National Anthem, which is going to be played at the competition for the first time ever in its 28 year history,” he added.
