Team Waffles - Assets School Robotics Teams

Founded in 2018 by a handful of motivated students and a willing teacher who shared a common mission: To provide a better future for the student and community, our robotics program and team. Team Waffles is now a nationally and internationally recognized robotics team that actively extends our reach into FIRST and STEM communities.

For Team Waffles, the community comes FIRST. As of August 2025, 74 students have graduated as robotics participants with the majority pursuing STEM degrees post-high school.

Currently, in the 2025-2026 Academic Year & season, we have an active FIRST program that participates in all 3 FIRST Programs: The FIRST Lego League (FLL), the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), and the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). You can find out more about the different FIRST Robotics Programs below.

Our robotics team is built like a small business, with different students focusing on different aspects of a robotics team. There are Robot Engineers who are in charge of designing and building the robots; Robot programmers who code the robots; Business managers who actively look for funding opportunities for the team; and Outreach Projects Managers that plan events and activities to reach out to local and national STEM communities.

Throughout robotics, we have opportunities to do computer-aided design, fabrication, software, and publication work; as well as how a business is run. Most importantly, we learn many life skills such as teamwork and problem-solving.

Mission

Assets School Mission Statement

The mission of Assets School is to serve gifted and capable students, specializing in those with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. Complemented by outreach and training, we provide a strength-based program that empowers students to become effective learners and confident self-advocates.

FIRST Robotics Mission Statement

The mission of FIRST® is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, inspire innovation, and foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.

Assets Robotics Coaching & Mentoring Staff

Peter
Han

Program Director
HS Teacher

Miles
Yamamoto

FRC & FTC Coach
HS Teacher

Emi
Hagiwara

FRC & FTC Mentor
HS Teacher

Chloe
Kurashima

Assistant Coach
Alumni

Emily Kurashima

Assistant Coach
Alumni

We are actively looking for enthusiastic adults, mentors, and parents that would like to be a coach/mentor for our Robotics teams!
From building and programming robots, to team management and fundraising. If you have engineering or computing experience; knowledge of running a business; or just a parent who is willing to help supervise, we would love to have you!

Interested in helping us grow this program by coaching and mentoring our students?
Email Peter Han @ phan@assets-school.org for mentoring/coaching opportunities.
(For mentoring/coaching positions are volunteer positions as of 2025)

For Team Waffles, the community comes FIRST. As of August 2025, 74 students have graduated as robotics participants with the majority pursuing STEM degrees post-high school.

Mission

Assets Robotics Coaching & Mentoring Staff

PeterHan

MilesYamamoto

EmiHagiwara