Chapel Hill High School’s robotics team, the Titanium Tigers, is soliciting donations from the community to meet their annual operating expenses of $50,000.
The team seeks to cover expenses in their entirety to prevent the implementation of a membership fee for students.
“Our mission is to never require money from our students, so that everyone feels welcome and wanted on the team, even when they are not in a position to financially contribute,” Rashi Singh, robotics team treasurer and organizer of the fundraiser on GoFundMe, said. Rashi Singh is the parent of senior Eera Singh, president of the Titanium Tigers.
The team designs and builds its robot and prepares it for competition entirely at Chapel Hill High School, involving not only considerable time and effort, but also funding for materials and competitions.
“Our $50,000 goal would help cover the funds for our 2024 season robot materials, tools, competition fees and travel expenses,” Rashi Singh explained.
Robotics advisor Riley Stewart explained that the building process can be quite costly.
“We build the robot entirely from the ground up to ensure more sophistication than if we were to buy premade frames or driving bases,” Riley said. “Much of our costs go to buying high quality materials and machinery. We recently bought a new 3D printer for $700 and several upgraded motors for $200 each.”
The Titanium Tigers annually take part in an international robotics competition organized by the nonprofit organization For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST). In 2022, the team placed second at the North Carolina District Championship, allowing the Titanium Tigers to participate in the World Championship.
The competitions consist of several tasks that must be completed by each team’s robot, including firing hoops into goals and hanging suspended on a chain.
Part of the fundraising goal is to facilitate travel for as many students as possible. Senior Wilson Yeung, a robotics team member, was able to attend the 2022 World Championship due to team fundraising.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to travel with the team and would not have been able to have such a great experience without the support of community members’ donations,” Yeung said.
