Lutheran High School of San Antonio was named a 2026 Inspire the Future: FIRST® Recognition Program honoree for pioneering inclusive robotics and STEM access. 

Our school is only the second school in the state of Texas ever selected since the program expanded to include school recognition in 2024, and one of just 15 schools recognized worldwide in 2026.

Launched in 2022 by FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), the Inspire the Future Recognition Program was created to honor the educators and schools making an extraordinary impact on STEM access and opportunity. Each year, 15 educators and 15 schools are selected from nominations submitted by the global FIRST community. Since the program's inception, only two Texas educators have ever been recognized — making Lutheran High School's selection as a Texas school honoree a landmark achievement for San Antonio.

“Our FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics teams are the heart of this recognition, representing the very best of what happens when student talent meets opportunity,” said Andrew Eickstead, Head of School at Lutheran High School of San Antonio. “This achievement is a direct result of the incredible partnership between our dedicated parents and the school community, all rallying behind the vision of Andrew Schuetze. As our coach and engineering teacher, Andrew has shown us that robotics is about more than technical skill—it’s about a collaborative effort to build a more inclusive world.” 

Robotics That Reaches Everyone: FIRST Access & Kinetic Kids

What sets Lutheran High School apart is not just its competitive robotics teams — the school fields both a boys and a girls FTC team — but its deep commitment to making robotics accessible to students of all abilities.

For four seasons, Lutheran High School has partnered with Kinetic Kids — a San Antonio-based organization celebrating more than 30 years of providing sports and enrichment activities for students with special needs — to create FIRST Access robotics teams. FIRST in Texas’s FIRST Access program supports robotics teams composed of students with special needs, and Lutheran’s robotics students serve as one-on-one mentors throughout the experience.

Each spring, Lutheran students mentor multiple LEGO® robotics teams that compete at the annual FIRST Access event held at Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio in June. The school also fields a dedicated FTC FIRST Access team, guiding those students through the full regular FTC league season from September through February before preparing them for the Morgan’s Wonderland event as well. Lutheran students and their parents volunteer at the Morgan’s Wonderland event each year, turning the competition day into a true school-community celebration.

Engineering for Good: Special Olympics of Texas Partnership

For the past five years, Lutheran High School has partnered with Special Olympics of Texas and its FUNdamental Sports program. Robotics and engineering students have channeled their classroom skills into designing, building, and programming adaptive sports equipment used directly by Special Olympics athletes. Students have also volunteered at the Special Olympics Texas Summer Games every year for the past five years, extending their commitment from the workshop to the competition floor.

Connecting Classrooms to Careers: Industry Partnerships at Port San Antonio

Lutheran High School actively bridges its robotics and STEM programs to the broader San Antonio professional community, with a majority of that industry engagement centered at Port San Antonio — the city’s premier aerospace, technology, and innovation campus. School representatives and students participate in events associated with the Girl Scouts STEM Day, the Women in Robotics Chapter, and the SA Robotix meetup group — bringing students face-to-face with working engineers, technologists, and industry mentors and reinforcing the message that a STEM career is an achievable and exciting path.

Champion for Girls in Tech: NCWIT Aspirations in Computing

Lutheran High School has made it a campus-wide priority to encourage young women to pursue technology careers. Year after year, the school produces more NCWIT Aspirations in Computing award recipients than many similar-sized or even larger public high schools. In the current academic year alone, seven young women earned Rising Star, Honorable Mention, or Winner recognition at the local level — with the program having earned a national honorable mention in  prior years.

Lutheran High School of San Antonio joins nine other U.S. schools and five international institutions as a 2026 Inspire the Future honoree, recognized during Teacher Appreciation Week 2026 by FIRST.

For more information about Lutheran High School of San Antonio’s robotics and STEM programs, contact Andrew Eickstead at andrew.eickstead@lhssa.org

About Lutheran High School of San Antonio
Lutheran High School of San Antonio is a Christ-centered college preparatory high school committed to academic excellence and servant leadership. Its award-winning robotics and STEM programs serve students on campus and throughout the San Antonio community. 

About FIRST®
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Manchester, N.H., that designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in STEM. The Inspire the Future: FIRST Recognition Program celebrates educators and schools who exemplify STEM for Everyone™. More at firstinspires.org.
https://info.firstinspires.org/inspire-the-future
https://community.firstinspires.org/meet-the-2026-inspire-the-future-first-recognition-program-honorees

About Kinetic Kids
Kinetic Kids is a San Antonio-based nonprofit celebrating more than 30 years of providing sports, fitness, and recreational programs for children and young adults with special needs. More at kinetickidstx.org.

About Special Olympics of Texas
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. 
https://www.sotx.org/fs
https://www.sotx.org/blog-detail/to-lutheran-high-school-of-san-antonio-robotics-isn-t-just-about-building-machines-it-s-about-building-a-more-inclusive-world-18808067

About National Center for Women & Information Technology
The National Center for Women & Information Technology is a 501 nonprofit organization in Boulder, Colorado at the University of Colorado Boulder. The center works to increase participation of girls and women in computing. NCWIT was founded in 2004 by Lucinda Sanders, Dr. Telle Whitney, and Dr. Robert Schnabel. 
https://www.aspirations.org/award-programs/aic-high-school-award

​

​🏅 Big things happen when heart meets hard work.

The Engineering Class and Robotics Team at Lutheran High School of San Antonio designed, built, and delivered adaptive sports machines for the Special Olympics of Texas — and the impact was nothing short of extraordinary.

Representing Lutheran High at the Texas Special Olympics, Lexi and Matthew embodied everything we hope to instill in our students. Their sponsors said it best — calling them wonderful ambassadors whose patience and kindness with athletes is "so genuine and appreciated."

We couldn't agree more. 💙

Thank you, Lexi and Matthew, for making us proud in the best possible way — and thank you to every student, teacher, and mentor who helped make this mission a reality.

Wednesday, April 22 was signing day at LHS!  We want to thank each and every coach, parent, teacher, and teammate who poured into these young men, and we were excited to celebrate with them as they officially put pen to paper and wrote the first line of their college athletic careers. Aiden Martinez, Andrew Wright, and Asher Biedinger each signed today, carrying the Mustang name with them as they step into the next great race, meet, and season of their lives. We couldn't be more proud.
 
AIDEN MARTINEZ | Track & Field
Signing to compete at Mississippi College
 
Aiden Martinez has spent four years turning the track at LHS into his proving ground, and the results speak for themselves. At the 2025 TAPPS State Championships alone, he claimed silver in the 100m, bronze in the 200m, and another silver in the 400m — a remarkable three-event performance at the highest level of Texas private school competition. And that was just the spring. As an AAU Junior Olympic Qualifier, Aiden has consistently shown that he competes with and beats the best in the nation.
 
Beyond his individual medals, Aiden was a crucial anchor on the LHS 4x400 relay team that set a school record alongside teammates Reed, Luciano, and Andrew — a mark that now stands in the LHS record books. He also contributed to the team's 4th-place finish at the 2025 TAPPS State Championships, a result that required every runner to give everything they had.
 
Aiden's relentless work ethic, his clutch performances under pressure, and his heart for his teammates have defined his time as a Mustang. Mississippi College gains a fiercely competitive sprinter with a proven championship pedigree.
 
Highlights:
• 100m – 2nd Place, TAPPS State Championships 2025
• 200m – 3rd Place, TAPPS State Championships 2025
• 400m – 2nd Place, TAPPS State Championships 2025
• AAU Junior Olympic Qualifier
• LHS 4x400 School Record (with Reed, Luciano & Andrew)
• LHS Team 4th Place Finish, TAPPS State 2025
 
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." — Deuteronomy 31:6
 
 

ANDREW WRIGHT | Track & Field
Signing to compete at Princeton University

There are superlatives, and then there is Andrew Wright. By any measure, Andrew's high school career stands among the most decorated in the history of Lutheran High School track. A six-time TAPPS State Champion, a two-time TAPPS Athlete of the Championship Meet, a three-time National Champion, and an eight-time All-American — placing in the top six in the entire United States — Andrew's résumé is extraordinary. He is also a Nike-Sponsored Professional Athlete, a distinction that speaks to his national profile before he ever steps onto a college track.
 
Most recently, Andrew captured gold and a meet record at the 2026 Nike Indoor National Championships, along with a bronze medal — a performance that served as perhaps the finest exclamation point on an already legendary prep career. His 2024 TAPPS State Championship sweep — gold in the 100m, 200m, and 400m, along with Athlete of the Meet honors — was an amazing testament to the work he has put in during high school. 
 
Andrew will take his speed, his faith, and his incomparable drive to Princeton University in the Ivy League. The Tigers gain one of the most gifted sprint athletes to come out of Texas in recent memory. We have no doubt he will make LHS proud in every lane he runs.
 
Highlights:
• 6× TAPPS State Champion
• 2× TAPPS Athlete of the Championship Meet
• 3× National Champion
• 8× All-American (Top 6 in the USA)
• Nike-Sponsored Professional Athlete
• 2026 Nike Indoor National Championships – Gold (Meet Record) & Bronze
• 2025 Nike Outdoor National Championships – Gold (Meet Record)
• 2024 TAPPS State Championships – Gold in 100m, 200m & 400m; Athlete of the Meet
• LHS 4x400 School Record (with Aiden, Reed & Luciano)
 
"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." — Hebrews 12:1
 
ASHER BIEDINGER | Basketball
Signing to play at Palo Alto College
 
When Asher Biedinger arrived as a freshman, he made an immediate statement: four straight years on varsity. Over those four seasons, he built a great resume. His 771 points scored, 802 rebounds (3rd most in LHS history), 157 blocks (4th most in LHS history), and 200 assists represent a complete presence on both ends of the floor — the kind of player who changes the game without always being the loudest name on the scoresheet.
 
Asher was recognized for his excellence by his peers and coaches alike, earning First Team All-District honors three times and Second Team All-District once. His four years of varsity experience and his size, skill, and basketball IQ make him exactly the type of player who can make an impact at the college level.
 
Asher signs with Palo Alto College, where he will continue to grow as a player and a person. The Mustang community has watched him develop from a promising freshman into an anchor of the program, and we know his best basketball is still ahead of him.
 
Highlights:
• 4 Years on Varsity
• 771 Career Points
• 802 Rebounds – 3rd Most in LHS History
• 157 Blocks – 4th Most in LHS History
• 200 Assists
• 3× First Team All-District
• 1× Second Team All-District
 
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." — Galatians 6:9
 
 
Thank you to the administrators, teachers, parents, and students who invested in these three young men over the past four years. The harvest you see today was planted long ago by faithful, loving hands. 
 
"Be strong and courageous... for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." — Joshua 1:9

Lutheran High School's engineering students are transforming the way athletes with special needs experience sport — one circuit board at a time.

There is a certain kind of work that changes you — not because it is difficult, but because of who it is for. For the engineering students in Mr. Schuetze's class at Lutheran High School San Antonio, that work comes every year in the form of a humble but extraordinary mission: building and improving machines that help athletes with special needs participate in sports they love.

This year, as the Texas Special Olympics Summer Games prepare to take place in Melissa, Texas, the Mustang engineering team is loading their creations for transport — devices that have been designed, assembled, tested, and refined right here in our own school's classrooms.

"This, along with FIRST Access, is some of the most rewarding experiences in my robotics career. I've had many, but these nearly every time bring a tear to my eye and love fills my heart to see our students want to do and make these things in service to others." — Mr. Schuetze, Engineering and Robotics Instructor.

The original "Mustang Free Throw Machine" is still at the center of this year's effort, and is in it's third iteration.  It is an Arduino-powered device that enables athletes to experience the joy of shooting a basketball, regardless of physical limitations. What began as a prototype held together with a breadboard and a tangle of colorful jumper wires has been completely rearchitected by students this year into a far more robust and reliable system. All five motor controller wires now mount cleanly in channels 0–4 on a custom Arduino shield, while user buttons and limit switches are soldered directly to the board — dramatically reducing the chance of a loose connection during an event. Students also disassembled, inspected, and reassembled the gearboxes on the upper motors, and are now dialing in motor speeds in the updated code to optimize performance.

The engineering logic is simple and purposeful: every loose wire is a potential failure point in the field. When an athlete is waiting, hopeful, and ready to play, reliability is everything.
But the Free Throw Machine is only part of the story. The class is also converting a Homerun / Tennis machine from its original VEX system to an Arduino and non-VEX motor — a meaningful rework requiring new hardware and entirely new code. A fishing carnival game is also in development, built from the ground up as a new addition to the lineup. And students have designed a stomp rocket device — a direct request from SOTX volunteers at last year's event — which required real investment in pneumatic components and represents exactly the kind of student-led, needs-driven engineering this program is known for in our pursuit of excellence.

What makes this program genuinely remarkable is not just the technical skill on display — it is the orientation of that skill toward others. These are not passion projects built for a grade or a trophy. They are tools built for specific human beings: athletes who deserve to experience sport in all its joy, and who will be waiting at the Summer Games in Melissa this week.

The Texas Special Olympics organization has taken note, and conversations are underway about how best to formally recognize Lutheran High School's service to the program.
In the meantime, the machines are loaded and ready. The code is being dialed in. And a group of Mustang students will soon stand at the edge of a gymnasium in Melissa, Texas, watching an athlete sink a free throw — made possible by work that started right here in San Antonio.
​
Go Mustangs. In service to others, to the glory of God.

The district track meet is in the books — and there is so much to celebrate for our Mustangs! From personal records to a district championship, our Mustangs delivered an outstanding performance from start to finish.

Before highlighting individual results, it's worth saying what matters most: the way our athletes support one another is truly remarkable. The encouragement, the cheering, the genuine love our students show for each other — it is an inspiration to every coach on this staff and a reminder of why we do what we do. We are proud to be even a small part of your journey.

Standout Performances
Christian — District Champion — Long Jump · 200m Claimed the district title in the long jump and also advanced in the 200m.
Hadessa — Advanced — 100m · 400m Competed and advanced in both events — hours after flying back from a soccer tournament in Florida. Her flight landed at 10:30 AM and she came straight to the track after playing soccer for six hours the day before. Incredible.
Jackson — Personal Record — 100m · 200m Set PRs in both the 100m and 200m on the same day.
Nick — Personal Record — 800m Slashed 8 seconds off his previous 800m best. That is a massive improvement.
Chandler — Personal Record — 400m Dropped 2 seconds in the 400m — a significant and hard-earned gain.
Addison — Personal Record — 400m Set a new personal best in the 400m.

These results reflect months of hard work and a commitment to getting better every single day. Personal records don't come easy — they come from showing up consistently and pushing through discomfort. Every one of you should be proud.

We look forward to seeing our advancing athletes continue to compete and represent LHSSA with excellence. Go Mustangs!

Saturday, April 11 both our boys and girls robotics teams competed at the TAPPS robotics event in Waco — and brought with them months of hard-won skill, determination, and teamwork. We are proud to share that our girls team advanced all the way to the semi-finals, a remarkable achievement that reflects the dedication of everyone involved.

But the story of this weekend goes deeper than any single result. In the weeks between the close of our FIRST season and the start of TAPPS competition, both teams poured themselves into the engineering, CAD design, and coding work that would carry them forward. That time — quiet, unglamorous, and absolutely essential — is where the real growth happened.

"We are not using kids to build robots, we are using robots to build kids."
— Dean Kamen, Founder of FIRST

Dean Kamen's words have never rung more true. What our students are gaining through robotics extends far beyond lines of code and points per match. From mastering engineering principles and CAD software to writing and refining complex code, from learning to lead teammates under pressure to leaning on one another in fellowship — these young people are pursuing excellence in every sense of the word.

Their work is rooted in faith, shaped by discipline, and pointed toward a future where the skills they're building will make a real difference — in their own lives, and in the communities they'll go on to serve.

We are proud of both teams for the work they put in and the way they competed.

A heartfelt thank-you to Mr. Schuetze, our coach, and Mr. Alwood, our coding mentor, for their tireless guidance and investment in these students. And to all the parents who have given their time and energy this season — none of this happens without you. Thank you for making this such a meaningful year.

Lutheran High School senior Andrew Wright is no stranger to the national stage — but this spring, he's running on an entirely new level.

At this year's Nike Indoor Nationals in New York City, Andrew and his Texas Titans relay team didn't just compete — they made history. The 4x200m relay team broke the National Championship meet record and brought home a gold medal in one of the most competitive high school track events in the country. As if that weren't enough, Andrew and his teammates also earned a bronze medal in the 4x400m relay, capping off an extraordinary indoor season.

These accomplishments are a testament to the culture around Andrew and his teammates. All Nike-sponsored athletes, the Texas Titans are led by Nike's Sprint Coach of the Year, Kevin Schexnayder — known to his athletes simply as Coach K — whose dedication to developing elite sprinters has helped place his team among the best in the nation.

For Andrew, the gold medal and record at Nationals mark his third National Championship of his high school career, and the bronze adds to a growing list of elite finishes. He has now earned eight All-American titles — a distinction awarded to athletes who finish in the top six in the United States at a national championship track meet. Eight. It is the result of years of early mornings, relentless work, and a commitment to excellence that reflects the best of what LHS strives to cultivate in all of our students.

And the season is just getting started.

This spring, Andrew will be traveling to Miami, Los Angeles, and Baltimore to train alongside members of the United States Olympic team and coaching staff, as well as compete in professional track meets. Just this past weekend, he stepped onto the track at the 2026 Miramar Invitational in South Florida — one of the premier stops on the World Athletics Continental Tour — where he raced against three Olympic medalists. That's not a high school meet. That's the professional circuit, and Andrew Wright belongs there.

The road ahead this summer leads toward something even bigger. In June, Andrew will be competing for a spot on the U-20 United States Track Team, with the goal of representing his country at the U-20 World Championships. For a young man from a small Christian school on San Antonio's northwest side, the scope of what he is pursuing is remarkable.

But those of us who know Andrew know that his story has always been about more than times and medals. He is part of a school community that believes God places gifts in people for a purpose, and that those gifts are meant to be used boldly to make an impact in his community to the glory of Jesus Christ. Watching Andrew run — watching him compete on the same track as Olympians, watching him carry the name of his school and his city into national and international arenas — is a reminder of what it looks like when a student truly leads a life of impact.
​
We are proud of you, Andrew. Go make history.

What happens when a small school decides to show up in a big way for their community? You get The Uplift Project — and a final fundraising total of $15,931.

This group of Lutheran High School of San Antonio students participated in Blood Cancer United's Student Visionaries of the Year program and from the very beginning, the mission was personal. In a school of only about 130 students, one classmate — Miguel Roman — was diagnosed with leukemia. Miguel's strength through treatment inspired the creation of The Uplift Project.  Miguel is now expected to be completely cancer free, but his journey brought a painful reality into focus: about 65% of families affected by blood cancer struggle to afford hospital bills while fighting for their loved one's life.  The team set out to change that — one donation at a time.

Over the course of their campaign, students raised funds through individual outreach, community partnerships, and a school-day bowling event at Bandera Bowl on March 2nd. That event was supercharged by a corporate match that tripled every dollar raised on the day. The momentum didn't stop there — KSAT Community partnered with The Uplift Project to host a live televised phone bank on February 23rd, shining a citywide spotlight on these young servant leaders and the families they were working to help.

When the campaign closed, the final number was $15,931 — a remarkable achievement for a student-led team from a small Christian school on San Antonio's Northwest Side.
The Uplift Project's work is a living example of what it looks like to love your neighbor — not just in word, but in action.

To the students of The Uplift Project: your school is proud of you, your community is grateful for you, and your work reflects the servant hearts God has placed within you. Well done.
​
To learn more about Blood Cancer United and the Student Visionaries of the Year program, visit bloodcancerunited.org.

We are proud of our Lutheran High School scientists who competed against students from across the San Antonio region at the Alamo Regional Science Fair!
Out of 17 projects presented, 12 earned ribbons — and 3 students were selected as Grand Prize Finalist interviewees:  Carson |  Mollie |  Sierra
Here's how our Mustangs placed:
🥇 1st Place

• Sierra – Medicine & Health A
• Carson – Botany

🥈 2nd Place

• Cody – Physics B
• Mollie – Chemistry

🥉 3rd Place

• Kasie – Physics B
• Nicole – Physics C
• Kayden – Botany
• Roman – Chemistry
• Kennedy & Brynnleigh – Team Award

4th Place

• Reed – Medicine & Health A
• Abby – Zoology

5th Place

• Logan – Environmental Science

🌟 Special Award Recipients:

• Kayden – Men's Garden Club Award, 2nd Place
• Roman – San Antonio Dental Society Award

What an incredible showing against talented students from 15+ schools across our region. We are so proud of each and every one of you for representing LHS with excellence! 

Boys' team earns Central Texas Qualifier berth with perfect 5-0 record and Connect Award
The Mechanical Mustangs robotics teams brought their A-game to this weekend's FIRST Tech Challenge league championship, with the boys' team punching their ticket to the Central Texas Regional Championship after an impressive tournament performance.
Boys' Team: Perfect Record Leads to Regional Berth
The boys' team put together a flawless 5-0 performance in qualification rounds, climbing from their initial ninth-place ranking to secure the fourth seed heading into elimination rounds. Their consistent excellence throughout the day—combining strong driving skills, a solid mechanical robot, and strategic alliance pairings—positioned them as the number four alliance captain.

Though they faced a setback in their first double-elimination match against the fifth seed, the team's overall performance spoke volumes. Their success was capped off with the first-place Connect Award, which, combined with their competitive record, earned them a direct advancement to the Central Texas Regional Championship.

Girls' Team: Strong Showing with Sustain Award
The girls' team competed with determination throughout the day, including a notable match alongside the tournament's top-ranked team. Their efforts were recognized with a second-place Sustain Award, demonstrating their commitment to the program's values beyond just competitive performance. While they didn't accumulate enough points to advance beyond league play, team members Lexi and Naomi exemplified leadership, serving in mentor roles throughout the season and driving both the first and last matches of league competition.

Kinetic Kids: Full FIRST Experience
A highlight of the tournament was watching the Kinetic Kids team—the FIRST Access team our students mentor on Monday nights—compete alongside 34 other teams. Rather than participating in only the annual FIRST Access event, these young men experienced the full competition: judging sessions, pit interviews, and matches throughout the day.

"What does full participation look like for our team of special needs?" reflected Coach Andrew Schuetze during the tournament. "Here they are with 34 other teams competing for advancement at the league tournament." The Kinetic Kids team earned two pit interviews from judges and competed with the support of their LHS student mentors, who Schuetze described as "young STEM leaders [who] fill my heart with a season-long mentorship."

A Day of Competition
The tournament day began at 8:30 AM with the boys' team heading to judging while preparing their robot for compliance inspection. Throughout the day, all three teams fielded multiple pit interviews from judges—often a positive indicator of award consideration.

The boys' team methodically built their ranking through the qualification rounds, maintaining sixth place for much of the day before securing the fourth seed. As alliance captain, they selected their elimination round partner and battled through the bracket toward their regional qualification.
​
The Mechanical Mustangs program continues to demonstrate that competitive excellence and inclusive mentorship can thrive side by side. Congratulations to all three teams on a successful league championship, and best of luck to the boys' team as they prepare for the Central Texas Regional Championship!