Homeschool Robotics Team TREX Excels in State Contest

Madison-area team captures second place for coveted Champion's Award at Alabama FIRST LEGO League competition

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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A newly formed homeschool robotics team from the Madison, Alabama area called TREX #71323 captured second place for the coveted Champion's Award at the Alabama FIRST LEGO League or FLL State Robotics Competition. The team of seven upper-elementary and middle-school students designed, built, and programmed a LEGO robot to complete a series of real-world themed missions while also developing and presenting a research project that demonstrated advanced problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity.

Why it matters

The success of the TREX homeschool robotics team highlights the growing interest and capabilities of homeschool students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and competitive robotics. This achievement for a first-year team also showcases the strong homeschool community in the Madison area and the impact of programs like FIRST LEGO League in nurturing the next generation of innovators.

The details

The TREX team is composed of seven homeschool students from Madison - Cash Banks, Lilianna Holt, Olivia Honderich, Sophia Honderich, Ephraim Newell, Oliver Riley, and Aiden White. They are coached by homeschool parents Tina Boozer and Elizabeth Holt. As a first-year team, TREX exceeded expectations by placing second for the Champion's Award, which recognizes teams that demonstrate outstanding performance in robot design and programming, research project, and core values like teamwork and gracious professionalism.

  • The Alabama FIRST LEGO League State Robotics Competition took place on February 7, 2026.
  • TREX will now advance to the Ramblin' Robots Invitational Tournament at Georgia Institute of Technology.

The players

TREX #71323

A newly formed homeschool robotics team from the Madison, Alabama area that captured second place for the coveted Champion's Award at the Alabama FIRST LEGO League State Robotics Competition.

Tina Boozer and Elizabeth Holt

The coaches for the TREX homeschool robotics team.

Stephanie Hurtado Lonard

A Madison-area homeschool mother who launched the local Homeschool LEGO Robotics Teams, including Team TREX, in partnership with the FIRST LEGO League organization.

Cash Banks

A member of the TREX homeschool robotics team.

Where's Chicken?

Another homeschool robotics team from Madison that won the Champion's Award and will advance to the World Festival for Robotics.

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What they’re saying

“As a first-year team, these kids have exceeded every expectation. They took ownership of every part of the process — from robot design and coding to their innovation project — and they've shown what homeschool students can do when they are given space to explore and lead.”

— Stephanie Hurtado Lonard, Madison-area homeschool mother

“This experience has shown us what's possible when kids work hard and believe in their ideas.”

— Cash Banks, TREX team member

What’s next

As Team TREX prepares for upcoming competitions, they are seeking sponsors, donors and community partners to help cover travel, registration and materials costs.

The takeaway

The success of the TREX homeschool robotics team demonstrates the growing capabilities of homeschool students in STEM education and competitive robotics, highlighting the impact of programs like FIRST LEGO League in nurturing the next generation of innovators.