EVENTS
2025 Northern CA VIQRC ES & MS Championship
Overview
Featured on ABC7 & NBC News!
March, 2025
UC Berkeley, Clark Kerr Campus, CA
In 2025, Robolabs will host the Northern California VEX IQ Robotics Championship, a premier state-level competition bringing together the region’s brightest young innovators. Nearly 800 students from 46 schools across Northern California will converge at UC Berkeley to showcase their engineering talent, teamwork, and creativity in pursuit of qualifying spots for the VEX World Championship.
The event highlights the spirit of “Robotics & Innovation for All”, with elementary and middle school students competing in high-energy teamwork challenges and Robot Skills matches. Tesla joins as a featured partner, with engineers on-site to share insights into cutting-edge robotics and vehicles like the Cybertruck and Model X on display for attendees.
Supported by collaborations with leading academic and industry partners, the championship also connects students directly with university engineering spaces at Cal—building pathways from early STEM engagement to higher education opportunities. This year’s program includes distinguished speakers such as UC Berkeley Engineering Dean Tsu-Jae King Liu and Professor Ala Moradian, PhD (Mechanical Engineering, Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation), who will inspire competitors and families alike with their vision for the future of STEM.
Event’s Impact
46
Schools
800
Attendees
190
Teams
Praise and Recognition for CA State
It’s incredibly exciting to see our work shared and celebrated by the very institutions that continue to shape the future of engineering and entrepreneurship.
Highlights: The Northern California State Championship drew praise and recognition across media and academia, with UC Berkeley College of Engineering and Berkeley Haas sharing the event, and NBC Bay Area and ABC7 News featuring students in action. Key moments included Dean Tsu-Jae King Liu engaging with Robolabs leaders, Andy Schaafs of the REC Foundation interacting with teams and families, and Arya Sasikumar interviewed on the impact of robotics. Tesla vehicle displays, team photos, and student showcases further captured the excitement and innovation of the day.
Thanks to Them!
A huge thank you to our event sponsor, Tesla, for helping bring even more excitement to the day. Tesla brought out a lineup of vehicles—including the Cybertruck, Model X, and other cars—for students and families to explore. Tesla staff engaged with attendees throughout the day, offering hands-on demos and plenty of photo ops. Their support helped elevate the event atmosphere and inspired students to dream big.
Special Thanks to UC Berkeley, ABC7 & NBC News for helping get coverage of the event!
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