The Lightning Blue Lizards (LBL), The Columbus School’s robotics team, competes internationally at FRC, inspiring others while learning and growing. With 32 members split into Programming, Mechanics, and Marketing, teamwork and leadership drive their success. Since 2019, LBL has earned awards like the Rookie Award through dedication and unity.
John Higuita, mentor of the marketing team, has played a major role in shaping the team as a whole.
“Well, basically, we’re in charge of maintaining the team’s economy, one way or another. Our main job is to look for sponsors and to teach students how to make the team sustainable. That’s been our focus since I started here—looking for our own resources, learning how to advertise ourselves, and organizing activities that make us valuable to the team,” Higuita said.
Marketing doesn’t end with finances, it’s all about the connections that are made with teams, companies, or online.
“We also work to build connections between students in Mechanics and Programming through posts, stories, reels, and other outreach activities. These help strengthen the team as a whole,” he said.
One of the best examples the Marketing team has promoted and worked on is RoboJam in Medellin, an event where younger students are introduced to robotics.
“Absolutely. One big example is RoboJam. It’s an event aimed at elementary students, teaching them robotics and programming skills. This not only boosts interest within our school but has also expanded to public and private schools outside Columbus,” Higuita said. “It’s amazing to see younger students—and even their teachers—getting involved and look to us for guidance on how to teach these skills.”
Meanwhile, on the mechanics side of the team, students are learning more than just how to build; they’re learning how to problem-solve and adapt to real-world challenges.
“One major challenge is the type and quality of materials. We’ve realized that some materials we need aren’t as accessible here in Colombia as they are in the United States. For example, we use aluminum—a very common material—but ideally, we should use 6061, which is aerospace-grade aluminum. Unfortunately, that’s not easy to find here,” Julian Zuñiga, one of the lead mentors on the team, said.
A very crucial individual who is not only involved in the making of the robot and the outreach of the team, but is also keen in the patience it takes to be a mentor.
In order to push through the struggles of building the robot while being sustainable, solutions have to be created. “First, we design everything thoroughly before purchasing materials, so we only buy exactly what we need. For example, we get the precise amount of nuts and bolts needed for the season. We always use the same sizes, so we can reuse and recycle hardware from previous years. It’s a very sustainable approach that we’re proud of,” Zuñiga explained.
Still, for Zuñiga, the most important outcome of the program is the growth of the students themselves.
“Problem-solving skills. They also learn how to prepare and design for fabrication, which is not easy. They develop teamwork and collaboration skills. Most importantly, they become owners of their own learning. A teacher can guide you to a certain point, but the real growth comes when students take initiative and research to improve on their own,” Zuñiga said.
That sense of ownership is something Felipe Franco, a senior who leads the mechanical team, knows well. He credits his growth to those who believed in him.
“It was mainly the confidence that was placed in me by my mentors, Julián Zúñiga, Héctor, and John Higuita. I also believed that the skills I have could facilitate the integration of new members into the team,” Franco said..
Beyond internal team dynamics, Felipe Franco believes LBL’s mission extends far past the workshop. “As we like to say, robotics is simply an excuse. We use it as a tool to reach other members of the community who may be less privileged, like kids from public schools. That really showcases the impact we seek to have in our community,” Franco said.
That mindset of impact and responsibility definitely pays off and makes not only the team known, but also the country where it’s from, Colombia. Franco emphasizes this idea.
“It’s definitely linked to the sustainability question because we managed to earn the Sustainability Award in the competition. However, I’d also like to highlight what we’ve achieved in the mechanics team. While it may not be our most significant improvement, we can definitely see changes from past years in our mechanisms, which are now more robust and stronger,” Franco said.
In 2025, union and teamwork remain at the heart of the Lightning Blue Lizards. And with each passing year, their mission grows stronger to innovate and inspire the next generation of developers.