[TikiTech]

I agree whole heartily with Glenn.

Coming from outside the mainland creates the situation where most of our budget goes to travel, lodging and shipping. The rest we use to help subsidize the student’s ability to participate. Most of our students’ families are working multiple jobs just to survive here. We will normally charge half of the per student cost of the trip to each team member. We also have scholarships provided by local supporters to help bring down costs for deserving students in need. We come from a school that has over 80% on free / reduced lunch services. Add in the fact that everything we might need to order has to come from out of the state and across 2500 miles of ocean. Minimum delivery is 3-5 days with paying for expedited air freight shipping.

Basically everything we do costs two to three times as much. Coupled with coming from an island that has little to no industry to draw upon for support. We are known for only a few things on this island, cattle, fishing, and coffee. We fundraise and do outreach all year long, at least one fundraiser and two community outreach events per month.

Even our local regional event is a flight away. The airfare alone can easily be from $150-250 per person depending on how far in advance you can book them. And of course if you book them as a group or use the DOE travel service its more..

Imagine that to take less than half your team, 20 students, and the 3 mentors to the world championship costs over $50,000. Let alone having to raise that in the 2-4 weeks after qualifying for the event.

Our program started with 4 students and 3 mentors. We have grown to over 75 students in our three years as a program. We plan on continuous growth. We have 100% of our graduating students going on to great colleges.

First has helped these students with gaining scholarships to schools such as Rice, Columbia, NYU, Cornell, Sarah Lawrence, Rochester, University of New Mexico, UH Manoa and many others.

This is at a school where less then 35% actually graduate and of that less than 20% go on to college. This program is making a huge difference in our community and cannot be held back by limiting funding.

Creating a cap on our budget would kill the programs potential to grow and enhance the community by creating future leaders.

If anyone has questions please feel free to message or email me. I would be more than glad to share.