Arlington Heights Robotics Team Hoping To Attend Competition: GoFundMe

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — The members of "Marshmallow Menagerie" are busy students. The four girls and one boy, all from Arlington Heights, often meet up for hours to work on the robot they've built.

According to a GoFundMe campaign, organized by Meredith Rice, the quartet is hoping to raise funds to pay for travel to the VEX IQ Worlds championship in Dallas, Texas. As of Friday afternoon, $1,100 of an $8,000 goal has been raised.

"The team has a goal this year to be division finalists. That means, they will need to be one of the top 20 percent of teams," the campaign reads. "Last year, they made it only to the top 50. This year, they have a game plan that they are confident will get them to their goal."

According to the organizer, the entry fee for the team this year has increased by $1,800 and hotel rooms are more than $200 a night for a week.

"We also have to travel to Dallas from Illinois and coordinate meals for the entire week," the campaign concludes. "It is estimated that each of the five team members will need about $1,500 to get themselves and their chaperone through the event. Any amount that you can contribute towards this fee will be greatly appreciated."