Four high schoolers sat in a Lake Washington High School computer lab last week. Their focus was not on playing computer games or updating Facebook, but on an 18-inch tall robot they created. Their task at hand was to tweak it just enough so that, come world championships, it is fit to compete against more than 400 teams from around the world.

Created in the fall of 2011, the Lake Washington High School Robotics Club has proven this school year that they’re serious about competition.

The team won the Western Washington VRC Tournament in March after becoming semifinalists at the Washington B Team and the Lake Washington VRC tournaments a few months ago, and were quarterfinalist winners at the Washington Jump Start Tournament last November. They’ve since been quarterfinalists at the British Columbia VEX Championship in March.

The team will next take on the 2013 VEX High School World Championship in Anaheim, Calif., April 17-20.

“This is a chance in a lifetime for these students,” Lake Washington High School club advisor Milo Dullum said, noting the team’s strengths are in dependability and scoring. “It is something they will always remember.”

Robotics Club president Steve Anton, 11, and club members Gordon Walsh, 12, Jacob Wall, 11, and Regan Colburn, 9, make up the competitive team named VEX 4770A Raging Robots, which  consists of more students. But before the four team-members and two chaperones can fly the 1,000-plus mile trip, they need to raise more money.

They are more than half way towards their $6,000 goal. Organizations such as the Kirkland Rotary Club, the Kirkland Kiwanis Club and the PTSA have graciously donated money. And with other private donations included, the club has secured more than $3,500.

“Our Kiwanis Club loves to support local kid things,” said Kiwanis Club President Jay Henwood. “I think the majority of our efforts should go to support the local kids here.”

After Dullum emailed Henwood to see if the Kiwanis Club would be interested in helping the team, Henwood suggested the students bring their robot to one of the board meetings. As soon as they got there, Henwood rolled up a $20 bill and threw it to the ground to see if the robot could pick it up.

“Before they were done, they had a couple of hundred dollars,” Henwood said, adding he finds value in supporting skills in auto-mechanics, engineering and technology. “I like hands-on things and so many charities and volunteer opportunities are less hands-on. It [can be] about the money you raise, but what’s more important is the mentorship.”

After a few more emails and networking, Bruce Wynn with the Greater Kirkland Chamber of Commerce was able to persuade Google representatives to donate $1,500 toward the team.

“Robotics falls into the engineering and math component,” Wynn said of STEM education, which Google gravitates toward. “They’re a big supporter of the education community, [especially] if it’s something that complements the IT community.”

The world championship’s “Sack Attack” competition will be held on a 12 by 12 foot field with the goal of scoring points by picking up bean bag sacks and scoring. Each team must make their robot autonomous for 15 seconds but are allowed a one minute and 45 second driver-controlled time period to score points.

The team members say, aside from learning various aspects of science and technology, they acknowledge they have learned valuable life skills such as how to be competitive and how to fundraise. Nearly all of them hope to apply their skills in science and technology toward a future career.

For more information on the Robotics Club or to donate, visit www.lwhsrobotics.org. More information on the world championship can be found at www.robotevents.com.