User:Funkyshiitakemushrooms

The Funky Shiitake Mushrooms is an engineering team based in Fremont, CA comprised of five seniors at Mission San Jose High School.

Tech Challenge 2008
The team originally started out as a group of four individuals: David Cao, Eric Chin, Catherine Lu, and Rebecca Xing. They got together to compete in the Tech Challenge 2008 competition and in the process applied for and received a $400 grant from The Gifted in Fremont Foundation. They were award the Judges' Choice Special Award for their water wheel and dual pump system device.

Tech Challenge 2009
The following school year, Raymond Zhong was added to the team for the current five members. They won the 2009 Tech Challenge competition with a hybrid airship that completed the challenge within 30 seconds. Their device included a streaming video camera and a manipulator for delivering a payload of 6 ping pong balls to the top of a ten foot simulated volcano.

Robogames 2009
Upon their success in the Tech Challenge, they entered their device slightly modified with an LED array. They won 2nd place in the Under 18 Open Division.

Digital Open 2009
The same year, the Funky Shiitake Mushrooms entered their device into an online competition called the Digital Open. Filed under the category Open Gear, FSM won the grand prize for this competition as well. Part of their prize was an interview with Xeni Jardin and Boing Boing Videos.