Perham Robotics Team Seeks $40,000 to Reach Houston World Championship

A 10-1 record and a second-place finish among 42 teams at the Lake Superior Regional earned Perham High School's Full Metal Jackets another invitation to the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston. Getting there will cost $40,000.

The Perham Robotics Booster Club launched a Givebutter fundraising campaign to cover travel, lodging, competition fees, robot repairs and supplies for the April 29–May 2 championship. It marks the second consecutive year Team 3297 has qualified for the event.

The Lake Superior Regional, held March 4–7, served as the qualifying event. The Full Metal Jackets ranked second out of 42 teams in qualification standings, the kind of performance that earns a berth at a competition where teams arrive from across the country and internationally.

The $40,000 target breaks down across several categories: airfare and hotel rooms for students and mentors, FIRST's championship attendance fees, parts and tools for pit repairs, and shipping materials and protective equipment. World Championship pit work routinely requires last-minute hardware purchases that add up quickly, and the Booster Club's fundraising pitch acknowledges that no contribution is too small to matter.

"This journey is about far more than building robots," the campaign reads. "It's about building future innovators and leaders."

The Full Metal Jackets are backed by local manufacturers and foundations that have helped underwrite costs in prior seasons. The Booster Club is also reaching out to businesses and alumni through traditional sponsorship channels alongside the online campaign. For those who want to contribute, the team's Givebutter page details exactly how donations are allocated.

FIRST posts live match schedules, rankings, and match videos during the championship, with Perham schools typically providing hometown coverage throughout the week in Houston.