A Montwood High School student won the FIRST Leadership Award at the 2026 FIRST Robotics World Championship earlier this month, an honor that is awarded to only 10 students out of more than 100,000 applicants.
Karime Lopez, who is a junior, earned the award for demonstrating outstanding leadership, initiative, and commitment to STEM education and community outreach. Only a select group of students are chosen for the award through a nomination process by their mentors to represent their teams, then going through interviews at the regional championship events.
“I feel truly fortunate and thankful to God for receiving this award. Hearing El Paso was the first thing they called, and knowing I was the only person from there, shocked me,” Lopez said. “As I heard my name and walked to receive my award, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of relief and happiness.”
The highly sought leadership award goes to students who are passionate, dedicated and highly effective at advancing the mission and core values of the FIRST program within their teams, schools, and communities. It opens opportunities for scholarships and elevates students' resumes and college applications.
Lopez embodies the FIRST core values as she practices teamwork, respect, professionalism and leadership regularly on the Montwood High School robotics team. She is a student in the Rams Early College and a member of both the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society.
She plans to become a biomedical engineer with a concentration in nanotechnology and to continue her outreach work by sharing STEAM education with others.
“I’m extremely thankful to everyone who believed in me and helped me. I believe this will benefit not only me but also our robotics program by expanding our image,” Lopez said. “One of the main things that set me apart for this award was my passion and personal mission for STEAM and my work in spreading its education to communities with limited access to it.”
Montwood High School robotics coach and engineering lead teacher Luis Ramirez said he is extremely proud of Lopez because the achievement showcases the outstanding work at their school, in the community and represents a great future of STEAM in El Paso.
“This recognition places our student among the top leaders in the FIRST Tech Challenge program globally,” Ramirez said. “It reflects not only technical excellence, but also the ability to inspire others, lead teams, and make a meaningful impact beyond the classroom.”
Lopez said she believes earning the FIRST Leadership Award is her biggest accomplishment to date. She has also won the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) affiliate award and was accepted to and attended the International Air and Space program (IASP) through a company called AEXA. Most recently, she was voted to be the 2026-2027 Montwood High School robotics president.