A group of Queens high school students is trying to raise money to take its robots to the national championships. NY1’s Roger Clark filed the following report.

Forty students from Francis Lewis High School in Flushing Meadows are in need of some money to take their creations to St. Louis next month.

"There is so much problem solving and thinking behind it, really getting that design to actually work is the greatest feeling in the world,” said team member Daniel Krastev.

The team won the Engineering Inspiration Award at the regional competition of the FIRST Robotics Competition at the Javits Center a few weeks ago. It qualified them for a trip to the nationals on April 27th.

"I'm really excited,” said team member Kelvin Chang. “I mean, when I found out about the news, I was like, 'wow, I can't believe it.'"

The team has raised about $10,000 for the trip, but still needs another $10,000. The team's advisors say the kids deserve a chance to compete with the nation's best and brightest.

"They are a hard working bunch of kids,” said team advisor Marlon Anuran. “They really work hard. They put in all their time and effort."

"They're a great bunch of kids. They're all enthusiastic,” said team advisory Angela Sherman. “You can't get rid of them. They want to stay as late as possible."

For many of the students, this isn't just an extracurricular activity. They'd like to study engineering in college and then make this their career.

"I actually never thought of becoming an engineer. Before, without robotics, I think I would have gone towards health profession, a doctor or something like that,” said team member Alan Chen.

For more information on helping these kids get to St. Louis, call 718-281-820 or check out FrancisLewisHS.org.

And, for more information about FIRST and other programs designed to engage students in science technology engineering and math, go to ConnectaMillionMinds.com.