Last month, the team secured second place at the Bison BEST Robotics challenge in Fargo. During its first-time effort, the group put on a judged presentation and created a robot that could grasp objects and race against others. In Arkansas, they will do the same.
If everything goes as planned, the group will contend in December with 40 other high school teams from across the nation, including West Fargo and Watertown, S.D.
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"We really want to emphasize that we're putting in money from our own pockets," said Alexis Olson, high school senior and team leader. "There's so few of us, it's really hard to raise $8,000 in two to three weeks."
An eight-member fundraising team has so far contacted 65 businesses in the region via letters and calls to ask for donations. Olson said Principal Dan Bettin recently approved a fundraising effort by senior Nick Stasko, who agreed to shave his head if the school raised $500. Stasko's mother offered to match the amount.
To date, the group has about $1,000 to show for their efforts. A donation letter written by the team reads, "If you were to donate to our organization, you would not only be supporting science and engineering in our community, you would be helping advance the idea that physics and science skills are important in the world."
"We really are trying to put the physics and engineering into the kids' minds and bring it back to the communities," said Annette Hovel, Olson's mother.
In the meantime, students have been busy revamping their robot, WALL-I (Willpower And Long Lasting Intelligence), during class and after school, said Olson.
"Last night, we worked for about three hours trying to make things faster and better," she said, adding that they're keeping the same design.
On Monday, Olson and Siri Manning, senior, will do a presentation in front of the school board to get the trip approved.
"Thank you to everybody that's supporting us," said Olson. "Really, we can't get there without the support of our community."
Donations can be sent to Breckenridge High School, c/o Scott Wermerskirchen, 710 13th Street N., Breckenridge, MN 56520.
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