After beating more than 50 teams to reach the finals of their regional competition in Chicago, the Riverside University High School RoboTigers are on their way to the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics world championship in Detroit later this month.

About half the team members are girls, which is rare in the robotics world. The students design and operate their robot. With support from businesses, teachers, alumni and mentors, the students of Riverside Robotics have created a nationally competitive robot. This is the third consecutive year the RoboTigers have made it to the robotics championships, which attract more than 70,000 people from around the world – plus 1,300 robots.

The RoboTigers need to raise an additional $10,000 for their trip to cover costs for hotels, meals and transportation. Corporate donations from Rockwell Automation, GE Healthcare and other companies are covering the team’s entrance fee, but more is needed.