Photo courtesy of GoFundMe
April 5, 2023 By Ethan Marshall
The Queens Technical High School robotics team, the RoboTigers, has set up a GoFundMe to cover the cost for traveling and competing in the 2023 FIRST World Championship.
The GoFundMe was set up after the RoboTigers earned the chance to compete in the championship, which is scheduled to take place in Houston, Texas, from April 19-22.
The team ended up qualifying for the FIRST World Championship by winning the Impact Award at the Long Island No. 2 regionals, as well as the competition at the New York Tech Valley Regional.
As of April 5, the GoFundMe has raised $1,570 with a targeted goal of $10,000. According to the GoFundMe page, it is estimated that the total cost to cover the flights and hotel accommodations for all 29 students on the robotics team as well as three mentors would add up to approximately $39,500. The school has only been able to secure $5,000 in funding due to school budget rules.
Since the RoboTigers formed on Jan. 7, students have dedicated more than 8,000 hours to the team. Some of their work includes the creation of a new pit and their competitive robot, ReRe. Through their work on the robotics team, the students feel as though they have been able to spark change in their community by shifting the culture of STEM to be more accessible and inclusive.
