Georgia Brown Dual Immersion robotics teams shine at Santa Maria Winter Wonderland Competition

By Paso Robles Press · Thu Dec 18 2025

PASO ROBLES — Georgia Brown Dual Immersion School (GBDI) brought home multiple awards at the Santa Maria Winter Wonderland Robotics Open Competition, where 46 teams from across the Central Coast competed at Tommie Kunst Junior High School.

GBDI fielded two teams: an elementary team of fourth-graders and a middle school team of sixth- and seventh-graders. The elementary team dominated the event, earning the Overall Teamwork Champion Award, Robot Skills Champion Award, and the Design Award for their heavily modified clawbot, “Lobster,” which scored more than twice as many points as the nearest competitor. With this win, the team qualified for the Southern California Regional Competition at UC Irvine on March 13-14, 2026, a step toward the World Championship in St. Louis in April.

The middle school team impressed judges by reaching the finals and receiving the Innovation Award for their robot, “Bot-Zilla,” which achieved the highest autonomous score of all 46 teams.

Led by science teacher and Robotics Club Advisor Jon-Paul Ewing, the GBDI teams won more awards than any other school in attendance. “Our students were fantastic—handling setbacks with maturity and showing outstanding sportsmanship with their fellow competitors,” said Ewing.

The robotics program, launched in September 2025, has been supported by local donors, including the Paso Robles Education Association, GBDI PTO, and school funds. As the teams prepare for the State Competition, they are raising $2,000 for entry fees, travel, and robot upgrades. Community members and businesses interested in supporting can contact Ewing at jpewing@pasoschools.org

Elementary team members are Rees Slover, Yeshua Angulo-Jimenez, Adrian Volle, Vivienne Abarca, Jupiter Ewing, and Hannah Thompson

Middle school team members are Sawyer Goodin, John Arevalo, Connor Ralls, Evelyn Maxted, Emily Bailey, and Jeseria Huffman

Feature Image: Both Teams Champions — Top Row_Sawer, Yeshua, Emily, Connor. Bottom Row_Evelyn, Rees, Adrian, Jupiter, JP Ewing. Photo by David Volle