Queens Robotics Teams heading to World Championships

Two robotics teams from Queens have earned the chance to compete at the FIRST World Championships in
Houston, Texas on April 17-20th representing the borough at the international level. These teams, one from Forest
Hills and the other from Long Island City have launched fundraisers on GoFundMe to help cover the costs of travel
and competing.
8365 GEARMASTERS’ Robot ORANGUTAN to World Champs!: “It’s me, Orangutan! I am the happy, bright
orange robot of FTC #8365 Gearmasters. We are a FIRST® Tech Challenge robotics team that competes at the
regional and international level. Our team is based in Forest Hills, New York, and our mission is to promote STEM
education equitably, sustainably, and inclusively in the communities we interact with on a local and global level. But
first, let me inform you about my team’s amazing skills. My team has advanced to the World Championship for 6
years in a row. We have won the Inspire Award (the highest ranked overall award) at the NYC Championships for the
past 5 years, and this year is also Gearmasters’ 10th year anniversary! This year, we were fortunate to become the
NYC Champions, winning the Inspire Award, and qualifying for the World Championship on April 17th-20th in
Houston, Texas, where we’ll compete with the top 3% of FTC teams around the globe. However, I am too heavy to
be taken to and from Houston. This fee is expensive and we need your help to raise enough money to support such
an expense. Our team consists of eight members (including me) who gather weekly. Unlike most robotics teams, we
are community-based.