By Michelle OLMESSEKIAN

Many children ages 10–14 look for ways to socialize and develop new skills outside of screens and schoolwork. Tinker Club, a local LEGO robotics program, offers students hands-on experience in programming, problem-solving and teamwork.

Run by Melineh Zohrabian, Tinker Club’s two teams recently participated in the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) qualifying competition in Los Angeles County. The club made history as the first Armenian teams to compete for the second time in this well-known multi-level program. The event included more than 600 teams from across Southern California.

Both teams advanced to the regional level, placing them among the top competitors in the county. One team, coached by Jilbert Dilanchian, earned first place in robot design, standing out among 23 teams in its division. The second team, coached by Meher Khechadori, also advanced to regionals, demonstrating steady progress throughout the season.

Dilanchian, who works closely with students at Tinker Club, explained that he focuses on teaching critical thinking and strengthening both programming and mechanical skills. He hopes to prepare students for future academic and career interests, including engineering. He described competitions as both stressful and rewarding, noting that months of preparation go into each event. Dilanchian said he would like to see the club expand its lessons in block coding and Python as more advanced classes are offered. When asked about his favorite moment, he paused as cheers erupted nearby from students completing a successful mission. Pointing toward them, he simply said, “That,” emphasizing the joy students get from their accomplishments.

Several students also shared their thoughts on the program. Nelly, a fifth grader, said she hopes to complete more missions this season than the last. Emily, a seventh grader, said she enjoys block coding because “there are different softwares you can use and different tasks you can complete.” Students described feeling a mix of nervousness, excitement and anticipation during competitions. They also agreed that the club feels like a supportive team environment. When asked about how coaches help them improve, Eva, another fifth grader, said the coaches “give good feedback,” and Emily added that coaches challenge students to solve coding issues on their own rather than giving answers outright. 

This Glendale-based FIRST LEGO League robotics team, coached by Dilanchian, made history by advancing to the SoCal championship, being the first team from Glendale and the first Armenian team in California to reach this level. The team’s 9–14-year-old members all attend Glendale Unified schools. The second team, coached by Khechadori, also excelled at regionals, placing among the top 250 teams out of more than 400 in Southern California.

As robotics and coding continue to play a bigger role in education and technology, programs like Tinker Club offer young students an opportunity to explore these fields early while building teamwork and problem-solving skills.