Folsom junior Ananya Purohit earns global robotics honor and invitation to world championship
A Vista del Lago High School student is gaining international recognition in the world of competitive robotics after being named a finalist for one of the top leadership honors in the global FIRST robotics program.
Ananya Purohit, an 11th grader at Vista del Lago High School, was recently named a finalist for the FIRST Leadership Award, an international distinction recognizing outstanding leadership in FIRST Tech Challenge robotics programs. The honor, formerly known as the Dean’s List Award, was announced March 1 during the Northern California FIRST Tech Challenge Regional Competition.
As a result of the recognition, Purohit has been invited to attend the 2026 FIRST World Championship in Houston, Texas, where finalists from around the world will gather to celebrate innovation, leadership and engineering excellence.
FIRST — which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology — is a global nonprofit organization that engages students in competitive robotics programs designed to build engineering, leadership and problem-solving skills. The organization’s programs challenge students to design, build and program robots while collaborating with teammates and mentors to solve complex engineering tasks.
The FIRST Leadership Award is presented to students who demonstrate exceptional leadership within their robotics teams and who serve as ambassadors for STEM education in their communities.
This year, four finalists were selected from more than 3,000 students who participated in the Northern California regional competition. Worldwide, approximately 250 students were named finalists across the FIRST robotics programs.
“Over the past ten years in robotics, I’ve learned that the only constant is that something will go wrong,” Purohit said. “To me, this award reflects the power of late nights and problem-solving. I’ve not always seen my face represented in STEM, so I hope this inspires other young girls to pursue STEM, knowing their effort truly matters.”
At Vista del Lago, Purohit serves as co-captain and co-founder of the local robotics team TechTalons, a group that has competed internationally and earned recognition for its engineering design process and community outreach efforts.
Beyond her robotics work, Purohit is also active in STEM advocacy efforts. She serves as the policy lead for the California Student Association for STEM Advocacy, where she helps plan legislative priorities for the organization’s annual California Advocacy Leadership Conference.
Her recognition marks a notable milestone for the robotics community in the Folsom and greater Sacramento region, as students from the area have rarely reached this level of international distinction in recent years.
Purohit said the achievement reflects the support system around her, crediting mentors, coaches and teammates who helped shape her experience in robotics.
“I would not be here without my mentors, incredible teammates, and the amazing coaches that supported me every step of the way,” she said.
Looking ahead, Purohit plans to pursue a career in biomedical engineering while continuing to support youth robotics programs and STEM opportunities in her community.
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