Umatilla High School’s FRC Robotics Team, 4125 Confidential, competed at the Pacific Northwest FIRST District Championship, held April 2–5 at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington. The event brought together 55 of the top teams from across Washington, Oregon, and Alaska, and Umatilla was proud to be one of them.
After a season of hard work, troubleshooting, and teamwork, Confidential finished the season ranked 50th overall out of 134 teams in the Pacific Northwest. On top of that, Confidential brought home the Team Spirit Award, a recognition that highlights their energy, unity, and commitment to the values of FIRST.
The Team Spirit Award recognizes a team that brings extraordinary enthusiasm, energy, and unity to the competition—something 4125 Confidential showed both on and off the field. Whether it was cheering on other teams, working together to solve problems, or engaging with judges and event staff, the team stood out for their positive attitude, school pride, and collaborative spirit.
“The competition was a good experience,” said Gael Valenzuela, the team’s Junior Project Manager. “We had a lot of eye openers on what we can work on next year. Our robot wasn’t the best, but we still persevered and didn’t give up.”
Their enthusiasm was evident in the way they supported others, worked as a team, and proudly represented Umatilla in every interaction. That same energy carries over into their school and local community, where they continue to promote STEM, teamwork, and innovation.
“Now that the season is over, we’re focusing on mentoring our middle school FTC teams–helping then find improvements on their robots, learning about marketing, and even organizing little competitions for them to compete against each other, “ Valenzuela shared. “Next year, I’m looking forward to just the overall FRC robotics experience and spending time with the connections I’ve made in robotics at future events.”
Congratulations to Team 4125 Confidential for representing Umatilla so well and for showing what it truly means to be a unified and spirited team!