Hi,   I have exciting news to share and hope that you can help me reach a new goal. Here is a little bit about my journey and how you can contribute.

I’m Dominique Varner but I go by Dom, I’m sixteen and currently attending The Governor's STEM and Technology Academy at Landstown High School. Yes, I’m “ Dori and Daniel’s little girl” but I’m not a little girl anymore. From an early age, I loved dance and cheerleading and all things art but for lack of better words, I grew out of that. Don’t get me wrong I still love dancing, cheering, and art but I have found new loves, and they are robotics and architecture! I have always had a love for constructing buildings with my Legos and designing rooms. I’m quite good at it too. But today we are talking about my endeavors with robotics. On May 14, 2022, my Landstown High Robotics team won first place at regionals and now we have the chance to attend nationals for the World Championships in California which is less than a month away at the end of June and we need your help in covering the costs.

It all began when I was in fifth grade, and I joined the robotics club at College Park Elementary School. At first, it was a way to get out of after school but then I grew to love it. My robotics team participated in a competition, but sadly did not win.

Then, in sixth grade my middle school planned a robotics competition too, all I could think about was how I could not wait to join.  I waited weeks but in November of 2018, the team started. It was a rocky few months before we came up with a game plan. The theme for that year was "Helping the marine supply chain". We came up with several different ideas but finally decided on using a drone to find and survey shipping containers in shipyards and shipping boots. We had it all planned out but slowly as the year went on and the competition grew closer my team slowly started to back away from the competition. Finally, there was only me left. Yes, I finished the competition but again I did not win first place. I did place fifth and had the biggest crowd listening to me speak about my idea. Although I did not win it still meant something to me, it meant that I could do it. I was ready for the next year waiting for the next challenge and the next big opportunity.

When seventh grade came, I was so happy, and I could not wait to start robotics. But COVID shut that year down as far as the robotics club.

At the end of my eighth-grade year, guidance counselors started talking about all the different high school options. We could go to an Academy or regular High School. So, with the help of my parents and more than a few teachers I began writing my essays. I applied for three academies and was accepted into two and chose the Landstown Governor's Stem and Technology Academy where I currently focus on robotics and architecture. I really geeked out when I heard there was an underwater robotics team at Landstown. I could not wait to join and now I spend every Tuesday afterschool working on our ROV. For those who may not know what that is, it is a Remotely Operated Vehicle, for us it is underwater which makes it ten times cooler.

As I mentioned above, on May 14, 2022, my team won first place at regionals and now we have the chance to attend nationals for the World Championships in California which is less than a month away at the end of June.

So why do I tell you my story? It is because we are asking family and friends to help send our team to the 2022 MATE ROV Competition World Championship. Your donation would help defray expenses and support innovation. No amount is too small in helping my teammates and I experience the joy of competition and hopefully bring home a win.

Thank you in advance for your support.