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SeaPerch Team Wins Robotics Competition

The Maranatha Science Club had two teams participate in the 2022 Los Angeles Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Challenge on Saturday, March 5, and won regional champion and brought back four trophies.
Approximately 20 teams competed at Troy High School on March 5 in the underwater robotics competition. After many hours of practice and overcoming numerous obstacles, the Maranatha team won the Regional Championship and will be the only high school team in our region to participate in the 2022 International SeaPerch Challenge, which will take place in Maryland on June 4-5.

Maranatha’s two SeaPerch teams consist of six students: Team A – juniors Aaron Chang (Captain), Evan Ng, and Victor Qiao; Team B – juniors Andrew Round (Captain), JT Lam, and senior Joshua Li.

The two teams practiced furiously under a very tight schedule, and it paid off. The results from Sunday’s competition are amazing:
  • Overall - 1st Place (regional champion)
  • Mission Course - 1st Place
  • Obstacle Course - 2nd Place
  • Technical Design - 2nd Place
These wonderful teams are sponsored by the school’s leadership, Mr. John Rouse and Mr. Tim Fenderson, advised by Mr. Dan Newkirk, supported by parent volunteers Mr. Anchung Chang and Ms. Joanne Lin (parents of Aaron Chang and Allison Chang), Mr. Jacky Chen (dad of Dorothy Chen and Timothy Chen), and coached by Dr. Shouhua Huang of NASA Jet Propulsion Lab (NASA/JPL). 

Dr. Huang praised the team’s accomplishments, remarking, “A huge congratulations and many thanks to the Maranatha SeaPerch teams! You have made Maranatha’s name shine on the new STEM field of underwater robotics. We wish you the very best in the 2022 International SeaPerch Challenge Competition.”

SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program that equips teachers and students with the resources they need to build an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) in an in-school or out-of-school setting. Students build the ROV from a kit of low-cost, easily accessible parts, following a curriculum that teaches basic engineering and science concepts with a marine engineering theme. The SeaPerch Program provides students with the opportunity to learn about robotics, engineering, science, and mathematics (STEM) while building an underwater ROV utilizing engineering concepts, problem-solving, teamwork, and technical applications.
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