Andrew Hill High School robotics team makes it to championship

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Students from San Jose's Andrew Hill High School are about to go on a trip of a lifetime. The school's robotics team earned a spot at the FIRST Robotics World Championships in St. Louis in less than two weeks. This rookie team beat the odds to compete among the best.

Members of Andrew hill high school's robotics team are deciding what to pack. Their upcoming trip is all about wires and gadgets -- stuff these teens have long had a passion for.

"I just like building stuff and I used to like building stuff when I was a little kid," team member Angela Tran said.

The fact that this team earned a spot at the upcoming robotics world championships is remarkable, considering this program began only last year. It had no mentors and no money, but senior and robotics team captain, Tina Nguyen, was determined to get the program started. She applied for grants and found the people with expertise to help.

"I thought it was a great idea to try to show the students here that even though the opportunities aren't there, you can start that opportunity," Nguyen said.

The team is taking a robot to the world championships in St. Louis. It stacks plastic recycling totes.

"Some of my students only think about being policemen or a teacher, now they're seeing other options for them, thinking about college and that's what the program offers them," team advisor Louise Handly said.

The team is getting lots of support. Hundreds of people have donated to their GoFundMe page to help pay for the trip, a trip they wouldn't be able to afford otherwise.

The team says they're not sure how they'll do.

"We're not the best mechanics and all, but we got team spirit," said a teammate.

But they know they'll be giving it their all.

If you would like to help the Andrew Hill High School robotics team click here.