Eight students from California High School in San Ramon have accomplished something extraordinary — and now they need your help to take the next step.

Cal High Robotics Team 1516X, “Grizzly Overdrive,” competes in the international VEX Robotics Competition, where students design, build, and program robots to compete in engineering challenges against teams from around the world.

What makes this team unique is that it is entirely student-run.

These eight students independently design their robot, write the code, solve mechanical problems, and troubleshoot every failure along the way — without technical mentoring from adults. Every improvement, every late-night repair, and every competition strategy comes from the students themselves.

Their dedication paid off.

On March 8, 2026, Grizzly Overdrive won the Design Award at the California State Championship, qualifying them for the 2026 VEX Robotics World Championship in St. Louis this April.

This is the first time in Cal High Robotics history that a team has qualified for the World Championship.

But there’s a challenge.

Despite their success, the team operates on a very limited budget funded mostly by parents. Many of the robot components they currently rely on are wearing out — including aging motors, low-retention batteries, and discontinued pneumatic parts.

To compete against the best teams in the world, they need access to reliable components and the ability to travel to the championship.

What Your Support Will Help Fund

Your donations will directly support:

• World Championship registration – $1,800

• Robot parts and upgrades

• Tools and replacement components

• Travel and lodging for students attending the competition

Every contribution — large or small — helps these students continue pursuing their passion for engineering, robotics, and innovation.

These students have already proven what they can accomplish with determination, creativity, and teamwork. With your support, they’ll have the opportunity to represent California High School and our community on the global stage of the VEX Robotics World Championship.

If you’re unable to donate, sharing this page with friends, family, and colleagues is another powerful way to help.

Thank you for supporting these hardworking students and helping them take this incredible next step.

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— Cal High Robotics Team 1516X

Grizzly Overdrive