TEHACHAPI, Calif. -- The international For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology competition kicks off in Atlanta in exactly one week, and that means the Cyber Penguins have even less time to raise $25,000 to ensure everyone on their team can watch their robot go head to head with some of the best robots from all around the world.

Designing, researching, building, and programming a robot in just six weeks is no easy feat, but that’s exactly what the Cyber Penguins did as a part of the competition.

Danielle Evansic, the Cyber Penguins advisor, said, “Starting in January, as soon as we find out the task that they have to accomplish, we start meeting six days a week, from 2:30 to nine o’clock at night. As soon as school let’s out, they’re in the robotics room working on their design.”

All of those long hours and hard work paid off, the group’s robot came in second at regionals and the Cyber Penguins won the prestigious Chairman’s Award.

Tehachapi High School junior Andrew Miller said when they were announced as the winner of the Chairman's Award, he was ecstatic.

“To be picked out of the teams that are there, there are 47 other teams at the competition; to win Chairman’s is big," said Miller.

The Chairman’s Award goes to what the judges see as the model team and that encompasses much more then having a great robot.

Sophomore Alexis Bartels said, “The FIRST program is about getting out, not just robots, not just beating everybody; it’s about getting involved, and becoming a better community leader.”

The award guarantees the Cyber Penguins a spot at the international competition in Atlanta, but the group still needs to raise a lot of money in order to get there.

“Our hotel costs are going to be about $5,000, airline tickets, we just booked them last night and they cost each kid $500. So, when we put that all together, we are looking at $25,000 in total expenses," said Evansic. "NASA is wonderful; they supported us by paying $5,000 for our entry fee. They’ve already paid it, so, we at least have our feet in the door.”

And while the group built a robot in just six weeks, raising $25,000 in just one week, could prove to be much more difficult.

But the Cyber Penguins are hoping the community will come out and support them in their fundraising efforts all weekend long.

On Friday night, the Cyber Penguins will be selling snacks at the high school's lip synching contest. On Saturday, the group will be holding a car wash behind K-Mart and serving ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery, and all weekend the group will be outside of Albertson's and Save Mart selling robotic bugs to help fund their trip.

The group is also accepting cash donations. If you are interested, you can contact the high school at 661-822-2130.