loading menu...

Nelson Team Grants

Nelson Team Grants seek to enable Title I and STEM-focused elementary and middle schools (grades 4-8) in the Los Angeles area (especially LAUSD) to start teams to participate in the VEX IQ Challenge robotics program. Our goal is to inspire students to pursue STEM degrees and careers. We provide schools with the resources needed to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

2018 Nelson Team Grants provide award recipients with the following equipment (total cost: $810 plus tax) plus the first-year team registration fee ($150):

  • VEX IQ Super Kit
  • $330
  • VEX IQ Competition Add-On Kit
  • $100
  • VEX IQ Foundation Add-On Kit
  • $80
  • VEX IQ Challenge Full Field Perimeter & Tiles
  • $200
  • VEX IQ Challenge [Current Game] Full Field & Game Elements Kit
  • $100
  • VEX IQ Challenge Team Registration (first year only)
  • $150

Only schools that are not currently participating in the VEX IQ Challenge are eligible. Schools that receive Nelson Team Grants are required to register a VEX IQ Challenge team ($150 registration fee paid by grant the first year) and to register that team for and to attend an official event (typical fee $100) each year. Schools should plan to spend $100 the first year for event registration and $400 each subsequent year for team and event registrations, for field and game element kits, and for additional robot parts.

Nelson Team Grant Agreement

If my school receives a Nelson Team Grant, I understand that my school will have use of the provided robotics equipment for as long as my team fulfills the following conditions. A new VEX IQ Challenge season starts after the VEX Robotics World Championships in April each year.

  • The coaches/mentors and administration at my school support creating a sustainable VEX IQ Challenge program.
  • The equipment will be stored in a safe, clean location.
  • The equipment will be used for official VEX IQ Challenge events or activities each season.
  • My team will complete and pay team registration each season.
  • My team will register for and will attend at least one official event each season.
  • I will participate in post-season surveys to assure that the above conditions have been fulfilled.

In the future, if my team no longer fulfills the conditions above, I will make arrangements to return the robotics equipment so that it can be made available to another deserving school.

2018 Nelson Team Grant Process

  • School submits Nelson Team Grant application.
  • LeRoy Nelson reviews and approves application.
  • Prior to May 2, 2018, if school is ready to start a team and is in a Local District with a confirmed new League host (Central, East, or West):
    • LeRoy orders VEX IQ Super Kit for school. The Super Kit ships in one box and weighs 10 pounds.
    • LeRoy sends school shipping confirmation, instructions to organize team, and frequently asked questions.
    • School organizes team(s) to learn how to build and program VEX IQ robots.
  • After May 1, LeRoy sends school instructions to register team and frequently asked questions.
  • School registers team. No payment or student names are needed.
  • School forwards team registration order confirmation to LeRoy.
  • LeRoy pays the team registration fee for one first-year team. A small box containing a Team Welcome Kit should arrive approximately one week later.
  • LeRoy orders VEX IQ robot equipment, field, and game kits for school. The equipment order, including the Super Kit, ships in 6 boxes that weigh a total of 70 pounds. The Super Kit may have been shipped earlier. If any items are out of stock, shipments could be delayed up to 6 weeks.
  • LeRoy sends school shipping confirmations, instructions to organize team, and frequently asked questions.
  • School organizes team(s) to learn how to build and program VEX IQ robots.
  • LeRoy works with Local Districts to organize leagues for local schools to attend.
  • LeRoy sends school instructions in September to register for leagues and other events.
  • School registers team for at least one official event (league or tournament).
  • School forwards event registration order confirmation(s) to LeRoy.
  • Team attends event(s).
  • Top teams qualify for State Championships and/or U.S. Open Championship.

2018 Nelson Team Grant Application

Download 2018 Nelson Team Grant Application (Word document)

This application should be signed by a school administrator, preferably by the Principal.
Please email the scanned application to LeRoy@LARobotics.org.
Applications are due by Friday, August 31, 2018. Revised March 6, 2018.

LAUSD Local District Maps

Schools that have received Nelson Team Grants are highlighted in blue.

  • Central (PDF, 1 page, 6,993 KB)
  • East (PDF, 1 page, 6,200 KB)
  • Northeast (PDF, 1 page, 8,872 KB)
  • Northwest (PDF, 1 page, 6,160 KB)
  • South (PDF, 1 page, 7,305 KB)
  • West (PDF, 1 page, 18,211 KB)

2018-2019 VEX IQ Challenge: 9-10 Leagues

Our goal is to start 4-5 new LAUSD leagues this year:

  • 1-2 new Leagues in LAUSD LD Central: Garvanza ES, TBD
  • 2 new Leagues in LAUSD LD East: Belvedere MS
  • 1-2 new Leagues in LAUSD LD South:TBD
Leagues will meet five times between September and January:
  • Session 1 for new leagues: Orientation and Practice Teamwork Matches
  • Session 1 for returning leagues: Qualification Teamwork Matches
  • Sessions 2-4: Qualification Teamwork Matches
  • Session 5: Skills Matches and Judging followed by Finals Matches and Awards
 Local District  League Host School Name  No. of Leagues  Coach Orient  League Session Dates
 Qual 1  Qual 2  Qual 3  Qual 4  Champ 5
 Central  Garvanza ES  1    Th 09/13  Th 10/18  Th 11/08  Th 12/06  Th 01/24
 East  Belvedere MS  1-2    Fr 09/07  Fr 10/05  Fr 11/02  Fr 12/07  Fr 01/11
 East  Elizabeth LC  2    Fr 09/14  Fr 10/19  Fr 11/09  W 12/05  Fr 01/18
 NW  Mulholland MS  3            
 West  LMU  1            
 West  USC  2-3            

2018 Nelson Team Grants: 95 Recipient Schools

Our goal is to start teams at 80-100 new LAUSD schools this year.

1st Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
3rd Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
10th Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
42nd Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
49th Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
52nd Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
54th Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
61st Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
95th Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Albion Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Angeles Mesa Elementary School and Dreams Magnet, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Arlington Heights Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Ascot Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
Baldwin Hills Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Beethoven Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Belvedere Elementary School, City Terrace, LAUSD LD East
Belvedere Middle School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Boys Academic Leadership Academy, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Brockton Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Brooklyn Avenue Span School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Budlong Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Canyon Charter Elementary School, Santa Monica, LAUSD LD West
Charles W. Barrett Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD South
Christopher Dena Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Cimarron Avenue Elementary School STEAM Magnet, Hawthorne, LAUSD LD West
Clifford Math and Technology Magnet, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
Clover Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Corona Avenue Elementary School, Bell, LAUSD LD East
Cowan Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Crescent Heights Boulevard LA/SJ Magnet, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Delevan Drive Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
Eastman Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
El Sereno Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
El Sereno Middle School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Estrella Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
Fairburn Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Fletcher Drive Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
Florence Nightingale Middle School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Ford Boulevard Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Frank del Olmo Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
Gaspar De Portola MS and Highly Gifted Magnet, Tarzana, LAUSD LD Northwest
Gerald A. Lawson Academy of the Arts, Math, and Science, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Glen Alta Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Glen Alta Middle School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Grand View Boulevard Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Gratts Learning Academy for Young Scholars, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
Hancock Park Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Hillcrest Drive Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Hooper ES, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
John W Mack Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
Kingsley Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Lorena Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Loreto Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Los Feliz STEMM Magnet, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
Malabar Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Manhattan Place Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Marquez Charter Elementary School, Pacific Palisades, LAUSD LD West
Marvin Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Melrose Avenue Elementary Math, Science, Technology Magnet, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Mid-City's Prescott School of Enriched Sciences, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Nevin Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
Normandie Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
Overland Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Pacific Boulevard Elementary School, Huntington Park, LAUSD LD East
Palisades Charter Elementary School, Pacific Palisades, LAUSD LD West
Palms Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Playa del Rey Elementary School, Culver City, LAUSD LD West
Queen Anne Place Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Raymond Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Ricardo Lizarraga Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
Robert Hill Lane Elementary School, Monterey Park, LAUSD LD East
Roscomare Road Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Rosemont Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
San Pascual STEAM Magnet, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
Sheridan Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Short Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Sierra Park Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Sierra Vista Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Soto Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Stanford Avenue Elementary School, South Gate, LAUSD LD East
Stoner Avenue Elementary School, Culver City, LAUSD LD West
Summit Preparatory Charter School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD South
Sunrise Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Tom Bradley Global Awareness Magnet, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Torch Middle School, Los Angeles, Bassett USD
Trinity Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
Valley View Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Virginia Road Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
West Athens Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Westport Heights Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Wilshire Park Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Wilton Place Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Wonderland Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
YES Academy, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD West
Yorkdale Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East

2017-2018 VEX IQ Challenge Ringmaster: 5 Leagues

LAUSD LD East Elementary Early VEX IQ League at Elizabeth LC, LAUSD LD East
LAUSD LD East Late VEX IQ League at Elizabeth LC, LAUSD LD East
2017 LAUSD NW Rookie Elementary School VEX IQ League at Mulholland MS, LAUSD LD Northwest
2017 LAUSD NW Returning Elementary School VEX IQ League at Mulholland MS, LAUSD LD Northwest
2017 LAUSD NW Middle School VEX IQ League at Mulholland MS, LAUSD LD Northwest

2017 Nelson Team Grants: 68 Recipient Schools

118th Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD South
122nd Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD South
Andasol Avenue Elementary School, Northridge, LAUSD LD Northwest
Blythe Street Elementary School, Reseda, LAUSD LD Northwest
Bryson Avenue Elementary/STEM Magnet School, South Gate, LAUSD LD East
Calabash Charter Academy, Woodland Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Canterbury Avenue Elementary School, Arleta, LAUSD LD Northeast
Chester W Nimitz STEM Magnet Middle School, Huntington Park, LAUSD LD East
Crestwood Elementary School, Rancho Palos Verdes, LAUSD LD South
Danube Avenue Elementary School, Granada Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy, Northridge, LAUSD LD Northwest
Eagle Rock Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
El Oro Way Charter (Elementary), Granada Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Elizabeth Learning Center (Elementary), Cudahy, LAUSD LD East
Elizabeth Learning Center (Middle School), Cudahy, LAUSD LD East
Emelita Academy Charter (Elementary), Encino, LAUSD LD Northwest
Ernest Lawrence Middle School, Chatsworth, LAUSD LD Northwest (Team Registration)
Fishburn Avenue Elementary School, Maywood, LAUSD LD East
Florence Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Fullbright Elementary School, Winnetka, LAUSD LD Northwest
Garvanza Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
Granada Elementary Community Charter School, Granada Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Hamlin Charter Academy (Elementary), West Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Hart Street Elementary School, Canoga Park, LAUSD LD Northwest
Haynes Charter for Enriched Studies, West Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Heliotrope Avenue Elementary School, Maywood, LAUSD LD East
Holmes Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Hope Street Elementary School, Huntington Park, LAUSD LD East
Huntington Park Elementary School, Huntington Park, LAUSD LD East
Independence Elementary/Magnet School, South Gate, LAUSD LD East
International Studies Learning Center (Middle School), South Gate, LAUSD LD East
Kentwood Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD West
Knollwood Preparatory Academy, Granada Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Lassen Elementary School, North Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Liberty Boulevard Elementary School, South Gate, LAUSD LD East
Lillian Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD East
Loma Vista Elementary School, Maywood, LAUSD LD East
Lucille Roybal-Allard Elementary School, Huntington Park, LAUSD LD East
Mary R. Stauffer Middle School, Downey, Downey USD
Maywood Center for Enriched Studies (CES), Maywood, LAUSD LD East
Maywood Elementary School, Maywood, LAUSD LD East
Miles Avenue Elementary/Math/Science/Technology Magnet, Huntington Park, LAUSD LD East
Montara Avenue Elementary/Magnet School, South Gate, LAUSD LD East
Napa Street Elementary School, Northridge, LAUSD LD Northwest
Old River Elementary School, Downey, Downey USD
Orchard Academies 2C - Global Studies & Technology Academy, Bell, LAUSD LD East
Park Avenue Elementary School, Cudahy, LAUSD LD East
Plummer Elementary School, North Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Pomelo Community Charter (Elementary), West Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Porter Ranch Community School, Porter Ranch, LAUSD LD Northwest
Russell Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD South
San Antonio Elementary School, Huntington Park, LAUSD LD East
San Gabriel Avenue Elementary School, South Gate, LAUSD LD East
San Miguel Avenue Math/Science/Technology Magnet (Elementary), South Gate, LAUSD LD East
Serrania Charter for Enriched Studies, Woodland Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
South Gate Middle School, South Gate, LAUSD LD East
State Street Elementary School, South Gate, LAUSD LD East
Sunny Brae Avenue Elementary School, Canoga Park, LAUSD LD Northwest
Teresa Hughes Elementary/Magnet School, Cudahy, LAUSD LD East
Valley Charter Middle School, Van Nuys, LAUSD LD Northwest
Van Gogh Charter (Elementary School), Granada Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Vernon City Elementary School, Vernon, LAUSD LD East
Walnut Park Elementary School, Huntington Park, LAUSD LD South
Walnut Park Middle School STEM Academy, Walnut Park, LAUSD LD East
Weigand Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD South
Winnetka Avenue Elementary School, Canoga Park, LAUSD LD Northwest
Woodlake Elementary Community Charter, Woodland Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Woodlawn Avenue Elementary School, Bell, LAUSD LD East

2016-2017 VEX IQ Challenge Crossover: 2 Leagues

Elementary VEX IQ Robotics League at Mulholland MS, LAUSD LD Northwest
Middle School VEX IQ Robotics League at Mulholland MS, LAUSD LD Northwest

2016 Nelson Team Grants: 16 Recipient Schools

Arroyo Seco Museum Science Magnet, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD Central
Christopher Columbus Middle School, Canoga Park, LAUSD LD Northwest
Ernest Lawrence Middle School, Chatsworth, LAUSD LD Northwest
Graham Elementary School, Los Angeles, LAUSD LD South
Hale Charter Academy (Middle School), Woodland Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Hesby Oaks Leadership Charter, Encino, LAUSD LD Northwest (Partial)
Holmes International Middle School, Northridge, LAUSD LD Northwest
James Jordan Middle School, Winnetka, LAUSD LD Northwest
Nobel Middle School, Northridge, LAUSD LD Northwest
Porter Middle School, Granada Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Porter Ranch Community School (Middle School), Porter Ranch, LAUSD LD Northwest
Portola Middle School and Highly Gifted Magnet, Tarzana, LAUSD LD Northwest
Reseda Elementary School, Reseda, LAUSD LD Northwest (Partial)
Robert Frost Middle School, Granada Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Sepulveda Middle School, North Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Vintage Magnet (Elementary), North Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest

2015-2016 VEX IQ Challenge Bank Shot: 1 League

VEX IQ MULHOLLAND ROBOTICS LEAGUE, LAUSD LD Northwest

2015 Nelson Team Grants: 19 Recipient Schools

Anatola Avenue Elementary School, Van Nuys, LAUSD LD Northwest
Bassett Street Elementary School, Lake Balboa, LAUSD LD Northwest
Bertrand Avenue Elementary School, Northridge, LAUSD LD Northwest
Calahan Community Charter, Northridge, LAUSD LD Northwest
Cantara Street Elementary School , Reseda, LAUSD LD Northwest
Columbus Avenue Elementary School, Van Nuys, LAUSD LD Northwest
Gault Street Elementary School, Lake Balboa, LAUSD LD Northwest
Lemay Street Elementary School, Lake Balboa, LAUSD LD Northwest
Mulholland Middle School/Robotics Magnet, Van Nuys, LAUSD LD Northwest
Mulholland Middle School/Robotics Magnet, Van Nuys, LAUSD LD Northwest
Newcastle Elementary School, Reseda, LAUSD LD Northwest
Noble Avenue Elementary School, North Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Northridge Middle School, Northridge, LAUSD LD Northwest
Patrick Henry Middle School, Granada Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest
Shirley Avenue School, Reseda, LAUSD LD Northwest
Stagg Street Elementary School, Lake Balboa, LAUSD LD Northwest
Stanley Mosk Elementary School, Winnetka, LAUSD LD Northwest
Sutter Middle School, Winnetka, LAUSD LD Northwest
Woodland Hills Academy, Woodland Hills, LAUSD LD Northwest

About the Sponsors

Nelson Team Grants are sponsored by Anita L. Nelson, MD and LeRoy E. Nelson.

Dr. Nelson is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology the Keck School of Medicine at USC, and Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. She is also Medical Director of the Research Division of Essential Access Health. She has published over 200 articles in professional journals, 70 chapters in medical textbooks, and over a dozen books. She enjoys judging STEM Research Project presentations at VEX IQ Challenge events.

LeRoy is a retired software engineering manager who has enthusiastically supported youth robotics since his twin sons joined a high school robotics team in 2001. From 2007 to 2014, he volunteered as the Los Angeles Region FIRST LEGO League Operational Partner, growing that program from 75 teams to 300 teams. For the next three years, he worked part time as a Regional Support Manager for the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, helping grow the VEX Robotics programs in California from under 700 teams to over 1600 teams. LeRoy retired from the REC Foundation early in 2017, but he is still passionate about growing the VEX IQ Challenge robotics program in the Los Angeles area. LeRoy is also passionate about education. He holds a Lifetime Secondary Teaching Credential in Math and Physics. He has taught math and robotics. He served on the Board of the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation for ten years and on the Boards of Manhattan Beach Unified School District and Southern California Regional Occupational Center for four years.

Additional Information

LeRoy Nelson, Treasurer
Los Angeles Robotics
1457 3rd St
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

E-mail: LeRoy@LARobotics.org
Mobile phone: (310) 529-4637
Home office phone: (310) 937-7226