by Pamela Willis Reynoldsburg eSTEM Academy's Technical Difficulties robotics team is headed to the FIRST Robotics Worlds competition this week -- an unexpected development that had advisers and students scrambling to raise funds for a trip to St. Louis.
Teacher and robotics coach Jim Coley said he put the team on a waiting list for worlds because veteran teams were allowed to apply. He received an invitation April 15 to compete at the championships set April 27-30 in St. Louis, Mo.
"We spent that whole day trying to get district and school board permission to attend at such short notice," Coley said. "The entrance fee of $5,000 was due the following Tuesday at noon."
He said the team switched into "high gear" and began to raise money, because besides the entrance fee, they needed about $5,000 more for travel and other expenses.
The Reynoldsburg community and local businesses also switched into high gear to make the trip possible. The entrance fee was donated by Dynalab, TS Tech USA, Earth Engineering and a couple dozen community members who stepped forward to help, Coley said.
"Within the next week, eSchoolView, MI Homes and DeFabCo had also made large contributions, and Cotner Funeral Homes also joined the list," Coley said. "By the end of the day on Sunday, April 24, the total was $9,600.
"I am deeply humbled and thankful to our sponsors and the community for their support," he said. "We now have enough to cover the cost of the trip for students who would not be able to go without the assistance." Read more in the
Reynoldsburg NewsCONTEST INFORMATIONHere is the live link for the FIRST Robotics Championship:
http://www.firstchampionship.org/watch-FRC-liveTeam Difficulties is in the Hopper Division. Qualification matches take place Thursday from 8:30-5 p.m. CST and Friday from 8-6:30 p.m. CST. Team 4085 match numbers are 3, 46, 76, 112, 122.