Last weekend, grade 5 student Rahul Mulpuri and his team won the Project Award at the First Lego League (FLL) Northern California qualifying tournament held at Intel headquarters. The award recognizes innovative solutions, research and presentation skills. His team was one of 16 that participated in the tournament. His teammates hailed from Pinewood, Khan Lab and Stratford. “It was an amazing collaboration between these kids from different schools working together towards a common goal with great team spirit,” said Rohini Malpuri, Rahul’s mother.

Lorenzo Martinelli, grade 5, was recently named Pacific Swimming’s 2015 Outstanding Short Course Swimmer in the age 10 and under category. Pacific Swimming comprises 120 swim clubs and 16,000 swimmers, making it the third largest of USA Swimming’s 59 regional associations. Martinelli was selected from among thousands of male swimmers in his age group.

“I am so excited to receive this award! Swimming is my passion and I love to win. It is fun to be recognized for winning!” he said.

Martinelli was honored at the 2015 PacSwim Awards banquet, which took place on Oct. 10 at the Embassy Suites Milpitas-Silicon Valley. Attending swimmers, their families and coaches enjoyed dinner, awards and a special visit from three-time Olympic swimming champion Natalie Coughlin.

Hearty congratulations to Natasha Rajaram, grade 4, who in mid-October won the “Little Mo” National Tennis Championship for girls age 9! The “Little Mo” tournaments are fun and provide good competition for tennis players age 8-12. Rajaram worked her way through sectionals and regionals to qualify for the championship, held in Austin, Texas. She also was one of just a few girls to be nominated for the sportsmanship award, although she did not win it.

“There are usually about four or five girls nominated for the award,” said Carol Weyman, a spokesperson for the event. “Just to be nominated is a great honor.”