Wow.
5 events, and paid mentors, and can't find the money for parts for your robot?
Considering the limit on robot cost, ONE regional entry fee should be more than enough.
Or, considering that 99% of the mentors out there work for absolutely nothing, perhaps your two mentors that are getting paid could each donate $2500, take the tax write-off, and fund you.
Our team has 4 big-name sponsers and we stretch doing 2 regionals and an off season event or two. I'm horribly jealous
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With regards to student costs, are you aware that most big name teams require a SIZEABLE fee to participate each year, sometimes on the order of $1k or more?