Vacaville Robotics team fundraiser helps for next competition – Fairfield Daily Republic

Andrew Krieger, left, and Skyler Zimmerman unload paper into a bin during "Shred Day" at Vacaville High School, Saturday. The fundraiser, sponsored by Shred Solution, raises money for the Vacaville High School Robotics Team 2085, "The Robodogs." (Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic)

VACAVILLE The Vacaville High School Robotics Team 2085The Robodogs brought in several hundred dollars Saturday with apaper shredding fundraiser at the high school parking lot.

The team is raising money to continue on to the next competition the second week of April.

The cost for doing this is really high, said Brian Kim, team mentor. It can be from $20,000 to $25,000 to do the competitions.

The competition changes each year, requiring a lot of money to build the robots and attend the competitive events, which can run $5,000 to attend.

Shred Solution helped, co-sponsoring theShred Day for the students. Sara and Rich Hostteter donated their time, truck and equipment for the event, with all the proceeds going to the robotics team.

Brent Krieger is a robotics dad who brought his own documents down for shredding in a show of support for the team.

I love it, he said. The constant movement and noise is exciting.

His wife, Cindy Krieger, finds the fun they have building robots with their son Andrew was better than when they were in high school.

I feel like Im back in high school, and its really fun, she said.

But its not all about the fun.The VEX Robotics program presentssome serious opportunities for participants.

They give out $50 million in scholarships, Brent Krieger said. A kid could get a full ride to college.

He said he hopes to see his son turn the skills he gains from the team into a career.

Taylor Ross, 16, the only female on the team, has big dreams of joining NASA after college and finds her skill-set ever-expanding by being on the team.

I am learning leadership skills by being director of engineering this year, she said.

Those skills of math, science and leadership will help her in college and beyond.

Im going to major in either astrophysics or aerospace engineering, Rosssaid.

The team is still taking donations. Contact Brian Kim at331-9000 for more information.

Reach Susan Hiland at 427-6981 or [emailprotected]

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Vacaville Robotics team fundraiser helps for next competition - Fairfield Daily Republic