FTC Team #30603
Coach: Duncan Miler
2025-2026 Season
Team Registration Open - Season Kickoff September 6th, 2025
Portland State University Science and Education Center - Sundays 9am-1pm
Gold Sponsors
Powering Innovation in Robotics Education
Technology Partner
Education Partner
Presenting Sponsor Partnership
Silver Sponsors
Portland State University
Small Business Accelerator
Bronze Sponsors
Sponsorship opportunities available
Partners and Supporters
Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program (ORTOP)
Metro Region Innovation Hub
Upstart Collective
Interested in sponsoring our team?
Contact UsSupport Our Team
Help us inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators. Your donation directly supports our students' robotics education and competition experiences.
What Your Donation Supports
| Equipment | Cost |
|---|---|
|
Control and Power Bundle (x2)
✅ Funded by Google/ORTOP! Core robot electronics and power systems
|
$1,440 |
|
Robot Starter Kit (x2)
✅ Funded by Google/ORTOP! Motors, sensors, structural components
|
$1,274 |
|
FIRST Robotics Fees
✅ Funded by Google/ORTOP! Official team registration with FIRST Robotics, ORTOP and Hillsboro Qualifying Tournament
|
$625 |
|
Practice Field
✅ Funded by Rose City Robotics! Tiles, corners, centers, challenge tools
|
$1,450 |
|
Tools & Equipment
Wrenches, screwdrivers, safety equipment
|
$500 |
|
T-shirts, Banners, Recruitment Posters
Team merchandise and promotional materials
|
$400 |
|
Parts and Supplies
3D printing and screen printing supplies (PSU supplied equipment), extra parts
|
$350 |
|
Monthly TriMet Passes
✅ Funded by Google/ORTOP! Need-based transportation support for up to 10 team members
|
$1,680 |
|
FIRST Tech Challenge DECODE Full Game Set
Complete game elements for 2024-2025 season practice
|
$485 |
|
Tournament Transportation
Bus for Hillsboro competition
|
$2,300 |
|
General Fund for Financial Aid
Supporting up to 5 team members who need assistance with costs
✅ Funded by Team Fees!
|
$3,120 |
|
Meeting Space
✅ Donated! 6 months of dedicated workspace from PSU Small Business Accelerator
|
$3,600 |
|
Total Donations & Funding
|
$13,189 |
|
Remaining Team Needs
|
$4,035 |
Every dollar helps us provide hands-on STEM education and competitive robotics experience
🤖 Every donation helps us build better robots and brighter futures
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is FIRST Robotics and the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)?
FIRST is a global organization that inspires young people to become science and technology leaders through hands-on robotics programs. FTC is a robotics competition for students in grades 7–12; team #30603 is a middle school team for grades 7–8. Learn more about FTC
How often will there be practices, and where will they be?
We will meet to build and work on our robot every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Portland State University Science and Education Center. Practices are not mandatory, but we encourage everyone to attend to learn more about robotics and build their skills. We are finalizing our permanent location and will provide updates soon.
Do I have to be good at robotics or have experience coding?
Absolutely no experience is necessary—everyone is encouraged to join. There are many roles on a team and a variety of skills you can learn, including outreach, quality testing, coding (blocks), fabrication, and documentation.
Will we be traveling to matches or competitions?
While we have the option to compete in leagues around Portland, for this season we plan to attend only one qualifying tournament in Hillsboro, OR, in January or February 2026. All other meetings will take place at PSU Science and Education Center. Winning the tournament would qualify us for the state tournament, though it’s unlikely for a rookie team to advance.
How much does it cost?
Team fees are $225 per month, which supports coaching stipends for two trained FTC Coaches, with the first month paid upon registration. Students can pause or cancel monthly fees and participation at any time. The costs to deliver the program far exceed these fees, and the team will be fundraising from local businesses and organizations to cover expenses including meeting space, equipment, materials, tournament fees, and transportation.
Do you offer financial assistance?
Yes, we offer flexible, need-based financial aid options. Out of 15 total team spots we have funding for 5 need-based scholarships on a sliding scale. If you'd like to sponsor an extra need-based seat please donate below and note "Need-based Scholarship" in the donation notes.
What is included in the monthly team fees?
Fees cover all coaching stipends and financial aid for need-based scholarships. We are estimating that each coach will be paid a stipend of $25/hr for approximately 40 hours/month, with two verified and background-checked FIRST coaches per team. These fees go directly to coaches, and no fees are drawn from team fundraising.
What if there are other team expenses?
Part of being on an FTC team in the FIRST community is fundraising to cover all expenses. This is part of the team experience and teaches marketing, outreach, accounting, and other skills. The more we fundraise, the more we can customize our robot and open the door to underrepresented students.
What do the robots look like?
Our team uses the GoBilda FTC kit as the foundation for our robot. These kits are built from high-quality aluminum parts, motors, sensors, and wheels, and can be customized with additional components for each season’s challenge. Our team's success in fundraising will determine just how much we can customize our robot.
What are the competitions like?
FTC competitions are high-energy, fast-paced events where teams compete in a themed challenge that changes each year. Matches are played on a 12-by-12-foot field, with alliances of two teams working together to score points by completing tasks such as moving game elements, climbing structures, or activating mechanisms. Events also include team interviews with judges, where awards are given for engineering, design, outreach, and teamwork.
Who can I contact for more information or registration?
You can contact Coach Duncan Miller at duncan@rosecityrobotics.com or through our contact page.