A Rare Recognition for a Young FRC Leader

Congratulations to Ryan Zhang for being recognized as a FIRST Robotics Competition Leadership Award Finalist at the 2026 FIRST Ontario Provincial Championship. He will represent Canada on the global stage as part of the final award selection process.

FIRST is a program built on teamwork. In FIRST, the focus is never just on “me.” It is always about “we.”

At the same time, FIRST also recognizes individuals who give selflessly to their teams, their communities, and the larger STEM movement. The FIRST Leadership Award honours students who demonstrate outstanding leadership, lasting impact, and deep commitment to the values and mission of FIRST. These students are not only strong team members, but also role models who inspire others through their actions.

Since the award was established in 2010 as the FIRST Dean’s List Award, only 33 Canadian FRC students have earned the honour of being named Finalists over the past 16 years.

This year, only three students in Canada received this recognition. Ryan, a proud member and captain of FRC Team 10015 Bubbles, became one of them. As a Grade 10 student on a second-year FRC team, this recognition is especially rare. He is also one of only two Grade 10 students to receive this honour, and one of the few Chinese-Canadian students in history to be recognized at this level.

We are especially proud that FRC Team 10015 Bubbles is the only second-year FRC team in Canadian history to have a student receive this award.

Ryan’s leadership journey began through FIRST LEGO League. Years of FLL training helped him build a strong technical foundation, but more importantly, it helped him develop the communication, collaboration, and leadership skills that define him today. Through FIRST, Ryan learned how to encourage his teammates, inspire his friends, and bring people together toward a shared goal.

As captain of Bubbles, Ryan has helped lead the team through challenge after challenge, achievement after achievement. His recognition is not only a personal honour, but also a reflection of the culture of learning, teamwork, and perseverance that Bubbles continues to build.

Congratulations, Ryan. Your leadership, dedication, and impact continue to inspire our team and our community.

Ryan also had the honour of representing the three Canadian Finalists by speaking about how FIRST LEGO League shaped his journey. He shared how FLL helped him build not only strong technical skills, but also the soft skills that are essential for leadership, including communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and confidence. More importantly, he reflected on how the culture of FIRST prepared him for the next stage of his journey, teaching him to lead with purpose, support others, and grow through teamwork.

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