The True Story Behind Spare Parts

Based on Real Events

In 2004, four undocumented teenagers from Carl Hayden Community High School in Phoenix, Arizona, did the unthinkable: they entered a national underwater robotics competition and beat MIT.

Armed with determination and a robot named “Stinky”, Oscar Vazquez, Lorenzo Santillan, Cristian Arcega, and Luis Aranda, along with mentors Fredi Lajvardi and Allan Cameron, proved that genius knows no ZIP code or immigration status.

A Robotics Underdog Story

Competing with PVC pipe, duct tape, and a tight budget, the team stunned judges at the MATE National ROV Competition. They outperformed elite universities in both technical challenges and problem solving.

The Fight Beyond the Robot

Their undocumented status meant barriers beyond the science lab — no FAFSA, no scholarships, limited job prospects. Their story became a national conversation about immigration, access to education, and equity in STEM.

La Vida Robot → Spare Parts

The world first learned about their story in a 2005 WIRED article by Joshua Davis titled “La Vida Robot.” The piece quickly gained national attention and became the foundation for the 2015 movie Spare Parts.

Released by Lionsgate and starring George Lopez, Carlos PenaVega, Marisa Tomei, and Jamie Lee Curtis, the film brought their story to screens around the globe.

“They showed the world what happens when you believe in yourself — even when no one else does.”