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Help Launch 2 Taos LEGO® League Teams!
Goal: $3,500
Hi, I'm Pooja LoPriore; a mother, entrepreneur, educator, and lifelong learner. I’m passionate about innovation, equity in education, and helping kids thrive through creativity and play.
I hold a degree in Computer Information Systems and Database Administration, and I’ve been a successful business owner for over 20 years. As an educator, I’ve written individualized curriculum for students across three U.S. states and two countries.
I believe that learning through play builds curiosity, critical thinking, and real-world problem-solving skills. That belief inspired me to start the Taos Learning Lab, a grassroots initiative that bridges gaps in education, especially for alternative learners who are often left behind by traditional systems.
One of our most exciting programs is the Taos LEGO® League , which combines STEM, ethical AI learning and social-emotional development into powerful, hands-on learning experiences.
What We’re Doing
We’re raising $3,500 for two Taos LEGO® League Challenge teams (12 students total, grades 4–8) for the upcoming season and we need your support! The teams will meet on Saturdays at the Taos Public Library from starting August 16th - November 22 2025. They will create robots using the LEGO® Spike Prime Robots. Each year First inspires comes out with a new theme. This years theme will be fully launched on August 5th, however they have released a few teasers and the Name: Unearthed .
The Taos LEGO® League Challenge is more than just building robots. It’s a team based, project driven program that helps kids become critical thinkers, creative problem solvers, and future innovators.
As part of the internationally recognized FIRST LEGO League , students will:
- Design and program autonomous LEGO® SPIKE™ Prime robots
- Complete themed missions on a robotics game field designed by Qualcomm and First Inspires
- Research and present solutions to real-world problems
- Develop leadership, teamwork, and communication skills
This is STEM education with heart, and it also serves as a workforce readiness pipeline using Project Based Learning (PBL). The program will be led by me and Matt Fesko, an environmental engineer currently working at LANL, who is joining as a volunteer coach and mentor.
What Your Donation Supports
Your generous contribution will help us provide this opportunity free of charge to all participating students. Funds raised will go directly toward:
- FIRST LEGO League registration fees for 2 teams (goal met)
- 2 LEGO® SPIKE™ Prime robots + expansion kits (goal met)
- 2 official mission sets + game mats (goal met)
- 2 competition tables (built locally) (goal met)
- Materials for the innovation project (trifold, paper, printing fund, felts, paints, etc)
- Background checks for volunteer coaches
- Team t-shirts for 12 students (printed by a local business)
- Transportation and lodging fees for the competition
Why It Matters
This program gives kids early exposure to high-demand fields like robotics and engineering while fostering creativity, collaboration, and confidence. It's inclusive, hands-on learning that prepares youth for life in the classroom, the workplace, and the world. It is an inclusive program which means that children of all levels of proficiency work together and learn from each other while mentors guide children towards finding their own answers and solutions to their own proposed questions.
Every dollar helps open the door for a child in our community to explore, learn, and thrive.
Together, we can build more than robots—we can build futures.
Thank you for being a part of this journey.
With gratitude,
Pooja LoPriore
Founder, Taos Learning Lab & Taos LEGO® League
Organizer
