SAN ANTONIO -- A group of local students hopes to get the support needed to make a dream come true.

  • Harlandale ISD students selected for World Robotics competition
  • Costs about $7,000 for supplies, travel and lodging
  • Hosting hamburger plate fundraiser on Saturday

 

Harlandale ISD students were selected to go to a World Robotics competition but they may not be going anywhere without community support.

Curiosity quickly turned to into passion for four students. Destani Vargas, Gilbert Ruiz, Mark Cruz and Matthew Jimenez all work as one.

The STEM Early college high school students put their minds together to create an award winning robot that’s now taking them to a place they only dreamed of.

"When they told us we actually qualified for World, I actually did jump up in the air," Cruz said.

They're headed to the Vex Robotics World Championship in Kentucky, but the biggest challenge for them is the cost of getting there.

It will take the group about $7,000 for supplies, travel and lodging for the three-day competition

For now, the students are busy perfecting their robot and searching for support.

"It's not cheap," Cruz said. "We're just trying to get everything going."

They're working on getting sponsors, and even selling hamburgers.

Ruiz feels the opportunity to go to Worlds will change what people think of students from the South Side.

"It's a great opportunity for scholarships and a great opportunity for this community to put us on the map," Ruiz said. "It doesn't matter where you come from. It matters what you're made of."

These students said they're made to win.

"It's a hard competition of course, but it’s not impossible," Jimenez said.  

If you'd like to help get them to the competition, you can go by STEM Early College High School on Saturday and buy a hamburger plate. The school is located at 4040 Apollo Street. The plate sale is happening from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.