As geeks, we've all known for a long time that one day we'll rule the world. One day, we'll be the popular kids in school who get all the love and attention of our peers. Football jocks and cheerleaders will bow before us, and we will be lauded as heroes.
Well, it looks like that day has finally come. At least, it has for a few of our number.
Meet 12 year olds Simon Shkreli, Benjamin Kelk and Gregory Chin. They're from Brooklyn, New York and they've just become the most popular kids in their school. At a recent school rally, the cheerleading team announced their entrance like they were rock stars, and the school even played their theme song over the loud speakers. Just what did these three young men do to deserve this treatment? They built robots, of course.
The three young geeks, along with two graduates from the school (Richard Chian and Daniel Alvarez), recently built a robot out of LEGO's. That robot went on to win the New York City FIRST LEGO League Robotics Competition. The victory has entered the team, dubbed the Nerd Herd, into an international competition that will be held in Atlanta, Georgia next weekend. This victory has somehow managed to bring their school together to rally support for the Nerd Herd. In fact, they've even managed to raise $18,000 for the team's trip to Atlanta.
Nearly 300 St. Edmund's Elementary School students stomped and cheered at the school's sendoff celebration for the so-called Nerd Herd, five child prodigies who will represent the city at an international robot competition.
"I'm so pumped up," exclaimed team member Simon Shkreli, 12, pointing to the crowd. "Look at this - it's amazing."
Cheerleaders waved their pompoms and the students formed an aisle down the middle of the gymnasium.
"Nerd Herd, Nerd Herd!" they chanted over and over as the high school's band played Survivor's thumping "Eye of the Tiger," the herd's unofficial theme song.
Simon, along with team members Benjamin Kelk and Gregory Chin, both 12, ran down the aisle, high-fiving their screaming fans, like they were playing in an all-star game or something.
The school presented the robot fanatics with an "I Love New York" banner to take to the Robotics World Festival next weekend in Atlanta.
Way to go guys! You are giving a positive name to nerds and geeks everywhere. You honor us all, and we're proud of you. We here at Geek-tastic wish you the best of luck in the competition. And may your sudden rock star status stay with you as long as possible.
(Via IO9)
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