Building the Future of Robotics Teams in Culver City Schools

The Culver City Education Foundation (CCEF) is once again making a powerful impact in our local schools—this time by supporting the launch of new robotics programs at both the elementary and middle school levels. With an eye toward future-ready skills and hands-on learning, CCEF’s funding support is helping bring cutting-edge STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education opportunities to Culver City students.

Thanks to community donations to CCEF, students in Culver City Unified School District are now getting early exposure to robotics, coding, and engineering. The foundation’s funding has enabled the purchase of robotics kits, start-up materials, and registration fees for competitions.

“Our goal is to give students access to enriching, future-focused opportunities,” says Dennis Paniza, Culver High’s Robotics teacher and coach. “Robotics is a perfect fit—it encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity, all while making learning fun.”

The new teams are already generating excitement in the school community. At the elementary level, FIRST LEGO League teams are being piloted at two school sites, with the goal to expand to all five elementary campuses. Students are learning to build and program small robots and are being mentored by students on the high school robotics team.

The new afterschool robotics team at the middle school will compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge, where they’ll design, build, and compete with robots to execute a specific challenge. CCEF has funded the start-up equipment, creating a space where students can collaborate and problem-solve while learning essential engineering and programming skills.

In addition to expanding the pathway to elementary and middle schoolers, CCEF continues provide critical funding support to the high school robotics team – FRC Team 702 Bagel Bytes. For over 20 years the team has successfully competed in the prestigious FIRST Robotics Competition where students use sophisticated technology to build and code industrial-size robots, learning real-world engineering concepts as they build their confidence and workforce skills.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that STEM occupations will grow nearly two times faster than non-STEM jobs in the coming decade, with median earnings that are 67% higher than other careers. By fostering early interest in STEM through robotics, CCEF is helping to lay the groundwork for long-term success in high school, college, and future careers. As these programs grow, so too does the potential of every student involved.