Cannon School’s Brainy Yaks Earn Top 100 Finish at FIRST LEGO League Championship

Cannon’s robotics team, the Brainy Yaks, recently returned from the FIRST LEGO League Championship in Houston, where they represented North Carolina and the United States among top teams from more than 40 countries.

Competing against an international field of more than 32,000 teams worldwide, the Brainy Yaks delivered another strong performance, finishing in the top 100 for robot performance. The team also ranked among the top competitors in innovation project, robot design, and core values, marking their second consecutive year achieving results at this level.

“I could not be prouder of what these kids have accomplished,” said Leigh Northrup, team coach and Director of Technology and Innovation. “Not only are they an amazing team, but the way they support each other, and other teams, shows how fully they embrace Cannon School’s core values in everything they do.”

The championship highlights student achievement in robotics, programming, and problem-solving, while emphasizing collaboration, teamwork, and innovation. Throughout the event, teams engaged not only in competition but also in shared learning experiences with peers from around the world.

The Brainy Yaks’ continued success reflects both their technical skill and their commitment to the core values of the program. Their performance reinforces Cannon School’s position among leading middle school robotics programs nationally.

Northrup expressed gratitude for the Cannon community members who helped support the team at the competition. “A huge thanks to faculty members Aidan Smith and Mush Hughes for providing amazing support to this team and also to parents Karin Cain and Amy Gilligan who joined us on the trip and were a huge help supporting the herd on their adventures,” he shared.

The team will begin preparations for the next season following a brief break, continuing to build on this year’s accomplishments.