Lincoln Park High Robotics Team Claims State Championship

Lincoln Park High School’s robotics team made history Saturday by capturing the Illinois State Robotics Championship, defeating 127 competing schools from across the state in a thrilling finale held at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield.

The victory marks the first major Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) competition win for the North Side school, whose team of 15 students spent nearly eight months preparing for the championship under the guidance of faculty advisor Maria Santos, a computer science teacher who launched the program three years ago.

“These students have shown incredible dedication and ingenuity,” Santos said following Saturday’s victory ceremony. “They’ve been working after school and weekends since September, learning everything from mechanical engineering principles to advanced programming languages. This win validates all their hard work and proves that Chicago Public Schools can compete with anyone in STEM education.”

The competition, organized by the Illinois Association for Science Teachers in partnership with the state’s Department of Education, challenges high school teams to design, build and program autonomous robots capable of completing complex tasks. This year’s theme, “Urban Innovation,” required robots to navigate obstacle courses simulating city environments while collecting recyclable materials and depositing them in designated sorting stations.

Lincoln Park High’s robot, nicknamed “Chi-Town Navigator” by the student team, distinguished itself with a sophisticated sensor array and machine learning algorithm that allowed it to adapt to course variations in real-time. The device completed the championship course in 2 minutes and 47 seconds, nearly 30 seconds faster than the runner-up from Naperville North High School.

Team captain Sofia Rodriguez, a senior who plans to study robotics engineering at Northwestern University next fall, credited the team’s collaborative approach for their success.

“We didn’t just divide up tasks and work separately,” Rodriguez explained. “Everyone learned every aspect of the build process, from 3D printing components to debugging code. When something went wrong during competition, any of us could step in and fix it. That flexibility made all the difference in the final rounds.”

The path to Saturday’s championship required the team to advance through three preliminary rounds, including a regional competition in October where they placed second among 31 Chicago-area schools. Their design underwent multiple iterations throughout the season, with students incorporating feedback from local engineering mentors recruited through partnerships with Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago.

Lincoln Park High Principal James Mitchell emphasized how the robotics program aligns with the school’s broader push to expand STEM offerings for its 1,400 students. The victory comes as Chicago Public Schools faces ongoing challenges in providing equitable access to advanced science and technology education across the district.

“This championship demonstrates what’s possible when we invest in our students and give them opportunities to explore cutting-edge fields,” Mitchell said. “We’re already seeing increased interest in our engineering and computer science courses, and this win will undoubtedly inspire more students to pursue STEM pathways.”

The team received crucial support from local businesses and community organizations throughout their championship run. Lincoln Park-based tech startup Quantum Dynamics donated sensors and microprocessors, while the nearby Chicago Children’s Museum provided workspace for testing prototypes. Fundraising efforts by parents and teachers raised over $8,000 to cover competition entry fees, travel expenses and equipment costs.

Saturday’s victory qualified Lincoln Park High to represent Illinois at the National High School Robotics Championship, scheduled for June in Atlanta. The national competition will feature winning teams from all 50 states plus international participants from Canada and Mexico.

Team member David Chen, a junior who serves as the group’s lead programmer, expressed excitement about the upcoming national competition while acknowledging the additional challenges it will present.

“State championship was amazing, but nationals will be completely different level,” Chen said. “We’re already planning upgrades to our robot’s navigation system and looking at ways to improve our scoring efficiency. The competition will be fierce, but we’ve proven we can hang with the best teams in the country.”

The robotics team’s success reflects broader growth in STEM education initiatives across Chicago Public Schools. District officials report that enrollment in advanced placement computer science courses has increased 40 percent over the past three years, while partnerships with local universities and tech companies have expanded internship opportunities for high school students interested in engineering and technology careers.

Lincoln Park High’s championship robot will be displayed in the school’s main lobby through the end of the academic year before being modified for national competition. The team plans to host demonstration events for elementary and middle school students throughout the spring semester, hoping to inspire the next generation of Chicago robotics champions.

The Illinois State Robotics Championship victory represents more than just a trophy for Lincoln Park High School. It symbolizes the potential for public education to nurture innovation and technical excellence, providing Chicago students with pathways to successful careers in rapidly growing technology sectors that will shape the city’s economic future.