Maui Robotics Team Seeks Funds to Attend World Championships

Maui High Schools robotics team, Team 2443 Blue Thunder. Courtesy photo: https://www.gofundme.com/sendbluethunder

Team 2443 Blue Thunder of Maui High School will be traveling to Houston, Texas to compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition World Championships from April 17 to 20, 2019 and is asking for support.

As of this morning, they had raised $4,140 toward a goal of $15,000.

Maui High School was among a group of teams that received the opportunity to head to the World Championships after competing at the FIRST® Robotics Competition Hawaiʻi Regional held at the University of Hawaiʻi Stan Sheriff Center in March.

Waialua High School, McKinley High School and China Urban Youth Robotics Alliance (Shanghai, China) were named the regional winners and will also be headed to the World Championships.  Along with the three regional winners, four other high school teams – ʻIolani, Molokaʻi, Maui and Maryknoll – will also head to the world championships.

“Each team clearly demonstrated teamwork, professionalism and strategic thinking in solving the competition’s challenges,” said Lenny Klompus, President and Chair of Friends of Hawaiʻi Robotics. “With the sustained support of the Hawaiʻi robotics ʻohana – including dedicated corporate sponsors McDonald’s of Hawaiʻi, FedEx, Alaska Airlines, Booz Allen Hamilton, Bank of Hawaiʻi and Hawaiian Telcom – this robotics competition will continue to grow and inspire students to study math, science and engineering.”

Now, the team asks for support in preparations for the World Championships.

“Blue Thunder has worked non-stop for this honor and we need all the help we can get. With the money that is donated, we will be able to pay for our travel expenses, transportation, and lodging” said the Maui High School FIRST Robotics team. “We are so incredibly grateful for all the help we have received this season and we hope that we have made you all proud. Thank you for your constant support to the team and to the students of their dreams and passions!”

To support their efforts and hear more about their story, visit https://www.gofundme.com/sendbluethunder.