Command position — first place at the Montana FIRST Tech Challenge robotics tournament. Endpoint position achieved.

The Kalispell RoboScout Squad brought home the state championship trophy and Inspire Award after competing March 5 in Belgrade. The Inspire Award goes to a team with all-around top performances in different areas. Placing second was a Eureka team from Lincoln County High School.

During the competition, the RoboScout Squad, made up of Girl Scouts from troop 3709, built and coded robots to complete missions and objectives centered around a shipping and logistics theme. The team also did a presentation before judges to explain their design process and submitted an engineering portfolio describing the work they did throughout the season.

Now, the RoboScout Squad is hoping to roll toward another win when they compete at their first FIRST Tech Challenge World Championships in Houston April 20-23.

RoboScout coach Krista Nunally said the Montana team will compete against 159 US and international teams.

The team is seeking sponsorships and is looking to raise $25,000 to cover travel, lodging, food, tournament registration and shipping expenses to mail equipment to and from Texas. That amount also includes other expenses such as purchasing uniforms and banners for the team's booth display during the tournament convention, among others needs.

People may donate online at gofundme.com. People wishing to donate more than $249 and receive a tax-deductible receipt, or wanting to mail a check should contact Krista Nunnally by email at [email protected].

For more information visit roboscoutsquad.com or call 406-270-3489.

The FIRST Tech Challenge is geared to seventh- through 12th-graders.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 406-758-4431 or by email at [email protected].