Frost Equity Initiative and Google Celebrate Student Innovation at John R. Beatty LEGO Robotics Festival

On Thursday, April 16, 2026, Frost Equity Initiative partnered with Google to host a LEGO League Robotics Club and Coding Camp at John R. Beatty Elementary School, giving students opportunities to explore robotics, coding, and hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning.

A total of 150 students, parents, and community members attended the end-of-year John R. Beatty LEGO League Robotics Festival. A total of 120 students participated in the LEGO Robotics Club, and 85 students participated in the Frost Equity Initiative's Artificial Intelligence/Scratch Coding Camp. Students were recognized with awards including the Champion's Award, Robot Performance Award, and Robot Design Award.

"Our students have not only learned how to code; they've also learned to communicate with one another, share each other's ideas, and know how to handle situations when maybe they have different perspectives... they're very proud of their work," Jennifer Krizmanic, Principal of John R. Beatty Elementary School, stated. She also added that these programs are crucial to have at every school, since this is what keeps students engaged.

In addition, Marcos, one of the parents at John R. Beatty Elementary School, expressed gratitude for the program. Growing up with limited opportunities like this, he shared how meaningful it has been to see his daughters develop their skills. Students also shared their experience. Aliyah, one of the 4th grade students at John R. Beatty Elementary School, said that she had fun and learned how to code LEGO with hubs and how to move robots with an iPad.

According to Ronnie Frost, the Executive Director of Frost Equity Initiative, students respond more effectively to hands-on learning experiences, as interactive activities help them better retain information. Additionally, she notes that this type of programming is essential as Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a factor not only in STEM fields but also in nearly every career across industries. Ronnie encourages every community member to support and volunteer with local STEM organizations.

Providing early exposure and opportunities for children to explore coding, robotics, and technology builds creativity, confidence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that can support their learning and future careers. You may click here to access some of the educational toys and coding and robotics resources to help your learners continue exploring STEM at home.