Vernon Robotics Team Shines at First Lego League BC /Yukon Championship

A team of young innovators, Mountain Shredders from Okanagan AI & Robotics Academy, Vernon proudly represented their community at the First Lego League B.C./Yukon Championship held on March 9, 2025, in Maple Ridge, BC. As the only team from Vernon to qualify, they showcased their exceptional skills in robotics, coding, and problem-solving, earning an impressive 10th place among 34 teams from across the province.

The team secured their place in the championship by winning the qualifier held at the University of British Columbia in February, where over 100 students presented their innovative creations to a panel of judges. In total, eight teams from the Okanagan advanced to compete at the prestigious championship event in Maple Ridge.

The Vernon team, consisting of Ryker Chorley (Silverstar Elementary), Spencer Collins(BX Elementary), Ethan Brink(BX Elementary), Sidharth Pillai(Silverstar Elementary), Kesler Embley(VSS), Anthony Kim(Harwood Elementary), and Manthon Vo(Okanagan Landing Elementary), showcased remarkable performance at the championship, highlighting their dedication, teamwork, and creativity. Their success is an inspiration to other young students in the community, proving that with passion and perseverance, they can achieve great things in the world of Robotics and STEM.

First Lego League is a global STEM program designed for students aged 9 to 14. The competition challenges participants to design, build, and program a LEGO robot to complete a series of missions while also conducting a research project aimed at solving a real-world problem. This year’s theme focused on ocean-related challenges, encouraging students to explore innovative solutions for marine conservation and sustainability.

Okanagan AI & Robotics Academy in Vernon is a pioneering institute making high-quality STEM education accessible in Vernon and beyond. Established two years ago, the academy holds various camps, after-school classes, and provides coaching for robotics competitions. Apart from robotics, the academy also inspires and instills STEM education through coding, design thinking, 3D printing and practical hands on projects. More information can be found at https://okanaganaiandrobotics.com/ or by contacting okanaganaiandrobotics@gmail.com.

Congratulations to the team for their outstanding achievement and for putting Vernon on the map in the First Lego League community!

Read more about the teams journey here at https://okanaganaiandrobotics.com/blog-fll-2024-25-main/

Read more about the Vernon Explorers’ ( Age 6 – 10 ) journey here.
Read more about the Mountain Shredders’ ( Age 10 – 16 ) journey here.