Student-led SaMoTech qualifies for FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship and launches fundraiser to cover travel and competition costs.
A student robotics team from Santa Monica is preparing to compete on the global stage after qualifying for an international championship, while raising funds to cover the cost of travel and competition.
The team, known as SaMoTech, earned a spot at the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship, scheduled to take place in Houston from April 29 to May 3. The competition is expected to bring together more than 8,000 teams from over 50 countries.
Founded in 2022 by a group of high school freshmen, SaMoTech has grown into a 10-member, student-led team that operates as a nonprofit organization focused on promoting science, technology, engineering and math education in public schools. The team continues to work out of a garage in Santa Monica.
Organizers say the group qualified for the world championship as regional champions, competing against more than 200 teams across Los Angeles and Southern California.
Participation in the event comes with significant costs, including registration fees, travel, lodging and equipment transport. The team has launched an online fundraiser through GoFundMe to help cover expenses.
Supporters can also follow updates from competing teams through a robotics championships community page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-1-teen-robotics-team-compete-at-world-championship?cdn-cache=0
