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OATS Robotics — We're Going to Worlds! 🤖

$1,450 of $15,000 goal
Given by 19 generous donors in 6 days

Help send OATS Robotics to the VEX World Championship in St. Louis, USA !

Tauranga, Bay Of Plenty

🤖 We're Going to WORLDS — Help Us Get There!

The workshops at Ōtūmoetai College have been buzzing this season — and it paid off. After months of Saturday morning build sessions, scrimmages, and late nights refining our code, OATS Robotics earned 2nd place at the 2026 VEX Robotics National Championship!

🏆 Who We Are

The Mecha Squad team — Indie Minshall, Rosa Sharp, Tom Van de Pol — secured silver at Nationals. We are fiercely proud of what they've achieved, and we want to give them — and the wider club — the chance to show the world what New Zealand students can do. Indie, William Hofsteede and Finn Montgomery are taking Mecha Squad 2941H to Saint Louis. Read all about us on https://2941h.github.io/.

📍 The Competition

The VEX Robotics World Championship is at America's Center, St. Louis, 21–24 April 2026. Over 2,400 teams from 60+ countries compete — the world's largest robotics competition, recognised three times by Guinness World Records.

💰 Why We Need Your Help

Getting a team from Tauranga to St. Louis is expensive. With rising prices it is going to cost over $30,000 but we want to get them there. Every dollar brings these students one step closer to the world stage.

🎓 Why It Matters

Beyond the competition, students gain global connections, university scholarship opportunities, and life experience that sets them apart in university admissions and STEM careers.

Please donate and share — every dollar counts!

Ngā mihi nui

🙏 — OATS Robotics, Ōtūmoetai College, Tauranga

Use of funds

Donations will go directly to helping students fundraise and pay for:

• Return flights from New Zealand to St. Louis

• Official tournament accommodation

• Registration and competition entry fees

• Robot equipment costs

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Latest update

Mecha Squads makes the Bay of Plenty Times and New Zealand Herald.  16 March 2026

Big shout out to Zoe Blake. Thank you for taking the time to interview the team and post an article.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/otumoetai-college-robotics-team-earns-vex-worlds-spot-after-nationals-silver/3DD4TODPM5HXTKQOALHYS3ZUQI/

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Latest donations

Reuben
Reuben 17 mins ago
Love your work team
$50
Otumoetai College Robotics

Thanks Reuben !

Otumoetai College Robotics
OMA
OMA 44 mins ago
GO TEAM OATS
Private
Jessica
Jessica 1 hour ago
$25
Otumoetai College Robotics

Thanks Jessica we really appreciate it.

Otumoetai College Robotics
Guest Donor
Guest Donor 1 hour ago
Great to see Kiwi STEM students representing on the world stage - go well.
$150
Otumoetai College Robotics

100%. Great to see our young adults with such a great avenue to put their skills together in a fun, competitive and collaborative sport.

Otumoetai College Robotics
David
David 2 hours ago
Great work so far. All the best for having a great time in the USA.
$100
Otumoetai College Robotics

Thank you so much David. A lot of hard work and a lot of fun. Perfect.

Otumoetai College Robotics

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This campaign started on 9 Mar 2026 and ends on 15 Apr 2026.