For the second year in a row, a robotics team of Santa Cruz County high school students earned third place at the MATE ROV Competition World Championship.

The Hephaestus Robotics Team, part of the Santa Cruz COE X Academy Robotics Clubs, competed against 39 high school teams from 12 countries in the Ranger Class of the world championship, which was held June 19-21 at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena, Michigan.

“Collaboration and perseverance are qualities that this team consistently exemplifies, and they were the qualities that allowed us to win,” said Sophia Casalletto, CEO of Hephaestus Robotics and a rising junior at Pacific Collegiate School. “This experience has been pivotal for me as a person, an engineer, and as a leader. It taught me how powerful a motivated, collaborative team can be, and I’ll carry that with me long after the competition. I am so proud of this team and of everyone’s contributions and growth.”

The Robotics Clubs program, now in its second year, is a partnership between the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and nonprofit X Academy. It offers high school students from across the county hands-on experience in designing, building and piloting underwater robots—at no cost to participants. This year, 52 students from 17 schools participated in weekly build sessions in Watsonville and Santa Cruz, guided by 14 volunteer mentors.

“As the first in my family to be part of this robotics program, this experience was an opportunity of a lifetime and eye-opener for technology in my future,” said team member Carlos Ortiz-Lopez, a senior at Sequoia High School in Watsonville. “The team proved great ability working together to get us to third place. We gave it our all through hard work and dedication to get on the podium.”

Fifteen students from seven schools represented the Santa Cruz COE X Academy Robotics Clubs at the World Championship:

• Anthony Arguello, Sequoia High School

• Blaise Benoit-Corey, Santa Cruz High School • Daphne Bingham, Pacific Collegiate School

• Sophia Casaletto, Pacific Collegiate School

• Rowan Delander, Sapphire School

• Arthur Guihaire, Santa Cruz High School

• Matthew Hofmann, Soquel High School

• Nathan Hofmann, Soquel High School

• Sam Imahara, Kirby School

• Nathanael Marcus, Soquel High School

• Bennet Menzer, Santa Cruz High School

• Carlos Ortiz-Lopez, Sequoia High School

• Arlo Tatum, Aptos High School

• Julia Tick, Pacific Collegiate School

• Amber Williams, Pacific Collegiate School

City of Santa Cruz receives national award

The city of Santa Cruz’s Purchasing Division has been awarded the annual Achievement of Excellence in Procurement by the National Procurement Institute Inc. for the second year in a row.

The Achievement of Excellence in Procurement is presented to public and nonprofit agencies that demonstrate a steadfast commitment to excellence in procurement. Recipients are recognized for embracing best practices in Innovation, Professionalism, Productivity, Leadership, and e-Procurement.

The AEP program not only celebrates outstanding procurement organizations but also encourages continuous improvement and high standards of practice year after year. For 2025, there were 216 successful applicants across the country, including 85 cities, 48 counties, 23 special districts, 26 school districts, 15 higher education institutions, 7 state or provincial agencies and 12 other public entities.

“This recognition is a reflection of the exceptional professionalism and integrity demonstrated by our Purchasing Division,” said Finance Director Elizabeth Cabell in a release. “It’s a testament to the team’s hard work, collaboration, and commitment to ensuring that our procurement processes are efficient, transparent, and aligned with the City’s values. We are honored to receive this award for the second year in a row.”

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