FONTANA, CA – Randall Pepper Elementary School’s international robotics success will be celebrated community wide on Dec. 14, when robotics students, coaches and administrators serve as the grand marshals in the 2019 Fontana Christmas Parade.

Randall Pepper Elementary students Heydi Pena, Mariah Torres-Osborne-Lewis, Daisy Santiago and Anthony Cuamatzi will lead the parade of floats and community groups, joined by coaches Alice Strout and Jeff Rich, Principal Dr. Annette Beasley and Assistant Principal Theresa Gomez.

“It is a tremendous honor to lead the parade and celebrate the excellence of our students,” Beasley said. “Thank you to Fontana Unified School District and the city of Fontana for supporting this special experience to enrich the lives of our students.”

The Randall Pepper team was selected after representing the District and city on a world stage at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) Friendship Invitational, held early August in Aarhus, Denmark.

The team netted the International Friendship Award for its slogan, “3 Countries, 3 Teams, 1 Friendship,” created in collaboration with students from Germany and Nigeria.

“I hope other generations get to see the way robotics has changed my life,” Pena said.

Hosted by the Fontana Exchange Club, the Fontana Christmas Parade has become a beloved city tradition. It will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 at Sierra Avenue and Arrow Boulevard.