The moment the final buzzer sounded at the Hudson Valley Regional, we finally had our answer: every late night, every failed prototype, and every recalibrated line of code was worth it. After three hard fought days of competition the team earned their spot at the FIRST World Championships in Houston, Texas. But the work isn’t over. Now, we’re racing a 35 day clock. We have just five weeks to move our team and our 110lb robot halfway across the country.

As a Title I school, we don’t have a large travel fund to fall back on. We are relying on the same hustle that got us this win to now get us to the airport. For many of our students, this trip represents a lifetime of "firsts." We are a team that is 95% minority students from neighborhoods where the path to becoming an "Engineer" isn't always clear. This trip to Houston is the proof our students need that their dedication leads to real-world opportunities. It’s a bridge to college and careers that will change the trajectory for their entire families.

The students have done their part. They built the robot. They won the blue banner. Now, we need the community to help them get there. Every donation, big or small, brings us closer to Houston and helps shape the future of these young engineers.