On the weekend of March 18-20, Highline High's first-year robotics team competed in the world's largest regional robotics competition at the Qwest Events Center in downtown Seattle.

They started out Friday in last place but the 16 students and several mentors were having a great time.
But by Sunday the totally unexpected happened-the Burien team won the Rookie All-Star Award and was invited to the world championships in St. Louis.

Now the team's students and mentors are desperately scrambling to raise $1,200 per student by April 26 so they can go to the worlds.

That's when they are booked out of Sea-Tac International Airport for their flight to Missouri where the competition begins April 28.

The team is holding a garage sale April 1 and 2 at 15819 12th Pl. S.W. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.
In addition, the students are ready to do most any odd job to earn their way-mow lawns, wash windows, landscape lawns, whatever.

Work requests, donations, grants and sponsorships are payable to Highline High School PTSA Robotics, Attention: Darin Gee, P.O. Box 66840, Burien 98166.

Those wishing to help may also come by the school at 225 S. 152nd. St. or e-mail mentor Darin Gee at dndgeez@msn.com.

The season began back in January.

In a six-week period, participants in the FIRST robotics program must raise funds, design a team "brand," and build and program a robot to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors.
In those six weeks, the Highline team built two robots. One was bagged up for competition while the other was used for practice.

Volunteer professional mentors, such as Gee, lend their time and talents to guide the team. Gee, named Boeing's volunteer of the year, worked with the Aviation High team for four years before starting the Highline team this year.

The team works out of Highline's wood shop from 2:30- 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and all day Saturday from January to April.

The students talk enthusiastically about the team.
Sophomore Selena Varesa said being on the team is "an amazing experience." She picked the team's name, HIGH TEKERZ.

Her teammates and mentors relate how when Selena first joined the team she hardly said anything. Now, she makes presentations before large crowds for the team.

Junior Jacob Ebey goes to school on the Evergreen campus but he enjoys robotics so much, he asked to join the Highline team.
"They welcomed me with open arms," Jacob declared. "It's like a big family."
Student Raj Nahal said there is more to robotics than just fun.

"This was totally new to me," Raj noted. "I was struggling with my grades, got help from the mentors and I went up .4 in my GPA."

Gee's wife, Diana Gee, is also a mentor.

"It's not just the 'bot," Diana Gee declared. "We can change a generation. We can allow students to be successful."

Robotics gives the students a safe place to be where they can bond as a family. Robotics not only allows students to learn technology but also other skills through design, project management and programming, according to Diana Gee.

Students also learn to help teams that they are competing against. The FIRST program calls it "coopertition."
Darin Gee said helping with homework so students can keep their grades up and participate in competition is also part of the mentor's job.

"Everybody has a gift within themselves," Gee said. "Our job is to get it out of them. Wherever they are weak, we work to make them strong."
Gee's old team, Aviation High in Des Moines, is also going to the world championship in St. Louis. The veteran Aviation team won the Engineering Inspiration Award and the Seattle Regional Excellence in Engineering Award. Coach Robert Steele won Volunteer of the Year Award and is a finalist for the national volunteer award.