FARMINGTON – A group of young engineers are beginning the lengthy process of raising enough funds for their team to compete in the World Championships in Detroit next year.
The Mt. Blue High School Robotics Team, The Blue Crew, was created only last year, but has already made great strides towards their ultimate goal of becoming a nationally recognized team. In order to do that, the team must first compete state-wide and then against other teams in New England. Each year the competition coordinators reveal a new scenario that each team’s robot has to face.
This year, robots had to deliver parts and “fuel” (Wiffle balls) to a faux rocket. The teams are given six weeks to build the robot, and then six weeks to compete against other regional teams. The Blue Crew got as far as Massachusetts this year, but are already preparing for next year’s competition.
In order to do this, team members are spending their summer vacation raising the money to participate.
“Even in regionals, competing against teams from Connecticut and New York, these kids are facing other teams with sponsors like Google and Microsoft. This is not a cheap sport. It’s really hard for a rural Maine school to compete,” Team Mentor Joel Pike said.
The team needs raise a total of $32,000 in order to cover everything they would need to attend the World Championship. The team is completely paid for with grants and fundraisers, with no additional money from RSU 9. Team members stressed how important it is to them to raise the money so that nobody is forced to turn down the opportunity of a lifetime.
To do this, The Blue Crew has started selling root beer floats at local events, including the Farmington Fourth of July parade and Summer Fest with plans of being at the Wilton Blueberry Festival and Bike Maine in Rangeley. In addition to the floats, the team is displaying this past year’s robot for onlookers, complete with demonstrations on the robot’s skills.
A gofundme account would be useful for those who wish to donate. http://www.gofundme.com
The Robotics organization at Mt. Blue High School is fantastic! The young adults, taught and motivated by brilliant mentors Rich Wilde and Joel Pike, learn engineering and design at a college level. Many thanks to the mentors. It would be great to see the schools fund this type of activity in the same way sports are funded.
The root beer floats is a great idea. For followers of the former hinkly family root beer float stand which is now these young kids took over the stand. Please continue to support the stand and help these young kids acive their wonderful goel!!!!