Nelson Team Grants seek to enable LAUSD or other Title I and STEM-focused elementary and middle schools (grades 4-8) in the Los Angeles area to start teams to participate in the VEX IQ Robotics Competition (VIQRC). Our goal is to inspire students to pursue STEM degrees and careers.
New Schools have not previously registered any VIQRC teams. New schools that are interested in starting one or more VIQRC teams can apply for the New School Award. New schools interested in starting two or more new teams can also apply for the Additional New Team Award. Items included in these awards are in the table below.
Returning Schools with VIQRC teams that have not participated since the 2021-2022 season and that only have 1st Generation Super Kits can apply for Returning Team Awards for teams that have not received this award previously.
Returning schools with 4'x8' VIQRC fields that have not yet been expanded to 6’x8’ can apply for Field Upgrade Awards.
Returning schools that pay to register more teams for the current season than they did for any prior season can apply for one or two Additional Teams Awards and for one Additional Field Award for each three teams added to the first team. Items included in these awards are in the table below.
New schools are required to register and pay to attend an official event (preferably a league) .
Returning schools are required to pay team registration and event registration and should budget for additional robot parts for each team each season. They will also need to order a Full Game & Field Element Kit. A Team Registration Fee Waiver may be available for schools that registered more than six teams in current and previous seasons
School submits Nelson Team Grant application.
LeRoy Nelson notifies school of decision.
LeRoy sends approved school Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) and instructions to register team contacts (if they have not already registered) and team(s).
At least one contact must be a school staff member with a LAUSD.net email address.
At least one unique coach (school staff member or parent volunteer) should be registered and listed as a Primary or Secondary Coach for each VIQRC team.
Coaches need to complete a background check before they can register teams or be listed as Primary or Secondary Coaches.
No prior robotics or technical experience is required to be a coach.
• School registers team contacts and team(s). No student names needed. No payment needed for new schools.
School forwards team registration order confirmation email to LeRoy.
LeRoy pays the team registration fee(s) for approved teams for new schools.
A box containing a Team Welcome Kit should arrive approximately one week after payment of fee(s).
One or more new coaches from new schools attend Coach Virtual Training.
Recommendations to make the first year VIQRC team experience fun and successful.
90-minute sessions are offered by LeRoy via Zoom at various times in June, August, and September.
Introduction to online resources for coach training and certification, team logistics, robot design process, robot builds, programming, engineering notebooks, judging, events, etc.
Questions and Answers.
Optional for coaches with experience or who already have a Coach Certificate.
Our 2024-25 goal is to start 15 new schools and 50 additional teams, restart 20 dormant teams, and support 295 returning teams this season, which will require starting up to 3 new leagues and supporting 12 returning leagues and 2 Southern California Championships.
Each new league should have 16-24 teams. Each continuing league should have 20-36 teams. Each league needs at least 16 teams for the top teams to qualify for Southern California Championships.
New coaches of teams participating in a league should attend a League Orientation.
Leagues meet after school or on Saturdays four times between October and January:
September: League Orientations for coaches. Optional for returning leagues.
October: Qualifying Session 1: optional Practice Teamwork Matches and Qualification Teamwork Matches.
November and December: Qualifying Sessions 2-3: Qualification Teamwork Matches.
December and January: Remote Judging: Digital Engineering Notebooks and Team Interviews.
January: Championship Session: Skills Matches and Judging followed by Finals Matches and Awards.
After-school league sessions typically start at 4:00 PM.
League Orientations typically end by 5:30 PM for coaches and by 7:00 PM for league volunteers.
If my school receives a Nelson Team Grant, I understand that my school will have use of the provided VEX IQ Robotics Competition (VIQRC) equipment for as long as my team fulfills the conditions listed below. A new VIQRC season starts after the VEX Robotics World Championships at the in late April or early May each year.
The coaches/mentors and administration at my school support creating a sustainable VIQRC program.
The VIQRC equipment will be stored in a safe, clean location.
The VIQRC equipment will be used for official VIQRC events each season.
My team(s) will complete and pay team registration each season (paid by the grant the first year).
My team(s) will register for and will attend at least one official event each season.
My team(s) will participate in post-season surveys to assure that the above conditions have been fulfilled.
In the future, if my team(s) no longer fulfill(s) the conditions listed above, I will return the VIQRC equipment so that it can be made available to another school.
This application should be signed by a school administrator, preferably by the Principal.
Please scan and email the signed application to
LeRoy@LARobotics.org.
Applications are due by Friday, September 27, 2024.
Submit applications early to give your students more time to build and practice driving a robot before the first league session.
Bassett Elementary School was one of the first schools to receive a Nelson Team Grant. Bassett Elementary’s dynamic journey to the VEX Robotics World Championships in their second year is masterfully captured in this insightful and gripping documentary. As we follow the trials and triumphs of the small band of determined students, teachers and support staff, this video celebrates overcoming the challenges of the world with heart, spirit and teamwork.
