<p>ESCONDIDO A team of robotics students at Bear Valley Middle School is on track for a trip to Toronto for an international competition in June after capturing the regional championship.</p><p>The NanoBots, one of the teams from Stephen Tillinghast's advanced robotics class, took the top spot Dec. 7 at the FIRST Lego League Southern California Regional Championship at Legoland in Carlsbad. The win earned the team of seventh- and eighth-graders five boys and four girls a spot at the FIRST Lego League International Open in Toronto. The competition in Canada from June 4-7 will include 75 top teams from around the world.</p><p>FIRST For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology was founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people to pursue science and technology studies. FIRST holds robotics and technology competitions around the world and awards scholarships. FIRST Lego League sponsors robotics events for 280,000 children worldwide.</p><p>The Escondido Union School District approved the Bear Valley students' trip at a board meeting Feb. 13. A $9,000 Hewlett-Packard STEM grant will cover most of the trip costs for the students, Tillinghast said.</p><p><a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/mar/14/bear-valley-middle-robotics-team-win-toronto/">Keep reading...</a></p>