Team 5625 TrojanBots arrival to the Hawaiian Regional competition in March. (Photo courtesy of St. Anthony Junior-Senior High School)
In its debut year, Wailuku’s St. Anthony Junior-Senior High School robotics program is already headed for the big time.
Its 12-student team of 10th through 12th graders has earned spots to compete this month in the world finals in St. Louis, Mo., and this summer in the international invitational competitions in Sydney, Australia.
They are asking the community to help them raise money for the trips.
In late March, the St. Anthony TrojanBots Team 5625 competed in its very first regional FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competition. Judges gave the TrojanBots the Rookie All-Star Award, winning them a spot in the FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship in St. Louis.
Last December, the students received the Connect Award at the FIRST Tech Challenge tournament on Oahu, earning them an invitation to this summer’s Asia Pacific Invitational July 12-14 in Sydney. More than 50 teams from around the world are expected to compete.
“I’m very proud of our students and all they have accomplished in just six months,” said STEM/robotics coordinator Roger Collier. “We’re also very grateful for the support we’ve received thus far from the St. Anthony ohana.”
The focus of Team 5625 is developing skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, marketing and design, while also developing leadership and communication skills that students will carry with them into college and their professional lives.
Tax-deductible donations may be mailed to St. Anthony Junior-Senior High School at 1618 Lower Main Street, Wailuku HI 96793. For information, contact Roger Collier at rcollier@sasmaui.org.