FTC Johnson League
BIOBUZZ kickoff at NRG, three league meets, and a January championship
Hosted by St. Thomas Episcopal School and Kids Robotic Foundation
800
Kickoff students
5
League events
20
Team growth goal
30K+
People who will know
$25K–$35K+
To run this program
This season
What this program is
FTC BIOBUZZ Season Kickoff & Robot in 6 Hours: September 12, 2026 at NRG Center. About 800 students will launch the season by designing, building, programming, testing, and demonstrating robotic solutions within six hours. KRF plans to recognize outstanding teams with resources such as Bambu Lab 3D printers, season robot kits, engineering software subscriptions, and access to team scholarships.
The Johnson League is a full FIRST Tech Challenge season for Houston-area middle and high school teams. Named after NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the league is hosted with St. Thomas Episcopal School and Kids Robotic Foundation. The pathway stays open: no-cost participation for teams and volunteers, including Title I–IV schools.
Join as sponsor, judge, referee, engineer, mentor, media, equipment, scholarship, or internship partner. Estimated season need: $25,000–$35,000+.
Season highlights
- At least 30,000 people who will know
- About 800 students at BIOBUZZ Kickoff & Robot in 6 Hours
- Five league events: kickoff, three meets, and championship
- Team growth goal: 20
- Bambu Lab 3D printers, season kits, software, and scholarships planned for outstanding teams
- No-cost participation for teams and volunteers, including Title I–IV schools
Event goals
- Promote STEM excellence and innovation through hands-on robotics
- Expand access for underrepresented schools and students
- Strengthen career-readiness and leadership skills
- Connect students with STEM professionals
- Sustain and grow the league from 11 to 24 teams next season
Join this program
Sponsor, volunteer, or equip
About $25K–$35K+ to run this program. 30K+ people will know about this work.
Volunteer for this event- Season robot kits, 3D printers, and engineering software
- Team scholarships and internship pathways
- Judges, referees, engineers, mentors, and media partners
Fund this program
$25K–$35K+
Gift amounts from the 2026–27 partnership packet. $25K and $35K can lead a major program. $45K and $50K+ cover the full season with guest benefits. Lower amounts contribute. In-kind includes volunteering, plus equipment, space, media, or skilled expertise.
30K+ people who will know
Your gift funds the program. Your people make it mean something: judges, mentors, equipment, and career pathways.
Prior season
2025–26 championship archive
Last season’s championship sat at St. Thomas Episcopal School on January 17, 2026. Staff, flyer, and championship sponsor tiers from that year stay here.
Johnson League Championship 2026
Season finale of the 2025–26 FTC Johnson League: three qualifying meets and 20 matches, hosted by St. Thomas Episcopal School and Kids Robotic Foundation. Judges included NASA, Nobel-affiliated scientists, 3M, and Raytheon.
- No-cost participation for teams and volunteers
- 40 service hours for high school volunteers
- Title I–IV school access built in
League leadership
Tournament staff, refs, and judges
Tournament Director / FTC JL Host
Darakhshan Dee Memon
Head Referee
Denny Shaikh
Judge Advisor
Tommy Sparks
TX State JA
Referee
Leo
Referee
Arleth
Referee
Aman
Referee
Zahra
Official Judge
Javier Montiel
I. Aerospace Academy
Official Judge
Ivvone Reyes
NASA Eng. Tech Intern
Official Judge
Alex Grey
NeuroMaker
Official Judge
Kashif Soomro
St. Luke's Hospital Network Eng.
Official Judge
Awais Memon
CPA
On record
2025–26 championship flyer tiers
These amounts are from the January 17, 2026 Johnson League Championship flyer. The current season uses the 2026–27 partnership amounts above.
Title Sponsor
$20,000+
Premier logo on all materials, recognition at ceremonies, and the opportunity to present awards.
Supports full event costs and keeps no-cost participation open.
Platinum Sponsor
$10,000 to $15,000
Logo on signage, shirts, and media, plus features in press releases.
Funds robotics kits, fields, and scholarships for Title I-IV schools.
Gold Sponsor
$5,000 to $8,000
Logo on banners and social media, with recognition during awards.
Funds robotics technology, field elements, and judging systems.
Silver Sponsor
$2,000 to $4,000
Logo on materials and social media, with an optional event booth.
Supports volunteer and student leadership programs, meals, and 40-hour service credits.
Community Sponsor
$500+
Name listed on flyers, the website, and at the closing ceremony.
Funds logistics, trophies, medals, and hospitality.
Team documentation
Build guides and programming resources
Start with REV DUO hardware, manage devices in Hardware Client, then choose Blocks or OnBot Java for Hello Robot.
Materials
Posters, collages, and documents for this program
Johnson League teams
League teams and robots, 2026–27 season visual from the partnership packet
2025–26 championship flyer
January 17, 2026 championship details and prior-season sponsor tiers
Season collage
FTC Johnson League 2025-26 builds, field, and team moments
Staff and officials
Refs, judges, tournament director, and season partners