HILLSDALE — Team 1676, the Pascack Pi-oneers, is raising funds to help send students to the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston, Texas, after qualifying for the international competition.
A GoFundMe launched by organizer Sharon Follari-Guggino says the opportunity came together quickly, leaving the team on a tight timeline to cover travel and other essential costs.
The Pascack Pi-oneers represent students from across the Pascack Valley Regional High School District, drawing from Hillsdale, River Vale, Montvale, and Woodcliff Lake. Students from Hillsdale and River Vale attend Pascack Valley High School, while students from Montvale and Woodcliff Lake attend Pascack Hills High School.
Founded in 2004, the team has grown into a robust STEAM program in which students work alongside mentors to design, build, and program a competition robot within an intensive eight-week build season. In addition to engineering work, students contribute to areas including business planning, design, media production, and outreach.
The team’s mission emphasizes collaboration, creativity, and “Gracious Professionalism,” a core tenet of FIRST Robotics that promotes respect, teamwork, and ethical competition. Organizers say the program helps students develop both technical and life skills, from programming and mechanical engineering to communication and leadership.
The Pi-oneers have a track record of high-level success, including winning the 2017 FIRST Championship in St. Louis and the 2017 FIRST Festival of Champions.
The GoFundMe notes that students have spent months preparing for this year’s competition through long hours and sustained teamwork, earning a place among the top robotics teams in the world. Donations will help cover expenses including meals, transportation, and robot supplies, with suggested contributions ranging from $20 to $100.
Organizers say community support—from local businesses, mentors, educators, and families—has long been a cornerstone of the team’s success, and they are once again asking the Pascack Valley community to rally behind the students as they prepare to compete on the global stage.
More about the team is available at team1676.com. Information about FIRST Robotics is available at firstinspires.org.