Funding problems impair Team Steam’s ability to compete
Free State Robotics team 5119, dubbed “Team Steam,” has had a tough run in their short time as a club. Due to a lack of funding, the team must face the reality they may not be able to compete this year.
The cost of building a robot and registering to compete is at least $5,000 and raising funds for a team that has not been active for more than five years is a demanding task to complete.
“I always hope for the best but prepare for the worst,” CEO and junior Kalena Nichol said.
In addition to funds being low, the team has been supervised by four different teacher sponsors since it was created in October of 2013, with Johnny Paradise as the current sponsor. The Robotics team has found it difficult to find teachers willing to sponsor a team that works 20 hours each week.
“It’s a little bit scary, as a team we really need stability,” Nichol said.
Although their chances of competing look slim, the club has still been able to reward its members in more ways than one. Robotics has helped several students find their love for engineering, business, leadership, computer science and other STEM focuses.
Hoping to gain more members, the club was opened to all schools in the USD497 district, and has gained several new members from Bishop Seabury, LHS and Lawrence Virtual School. The team hopes to continue to fundraise and improve the skills of new members, preparing for prosperous future seasons.
“As a freshman I knew absolutely nothing, and then I was one of the lead mechanics last year and now I’m the CEO…,” Nichol said. “How far you get depends on how hard you work.”
