SeaPerch Team Heads to International Competition

On March 3, the Maranatha Science Club Underwater Robot Team (Maranatha SeaPerch) participated for the first time in the 2018 U.S. Navy Los Angeles Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Competition and won two First Place trophies: 2018 Navy City Outreach 1st Place on Engineering Notebook and 2018 Navy City Outreach 1st Place on Overall.

The Maranatha Seaperch team made outstanding achievements at the Regional competition, and because of that, it allowed the team to be qualified for the 2018 International SeaPerch Challenge Competition at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in Massachusetts from June 1-3, 2018.

Maranatha parent volunteer and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) scientist Dr. Shouhua Huang said, “Supported by Maranatha High School’s faculty and leadership of Mr. Girma Aleme, Principal John Rouse, Dr. Rocio Watkins, and Ms. Jenessa Ocon, the Maranatha SeaPerch team is working hard for preparing in the International competition. They have been modifying the robot, preparing the engineering notebook, and practicing for a great number of hours. I believe they will see more achievements in the International 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 comprised 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 as part of a science and engineering technology curriculum. Throughout the project, students learn engineering concepts, problem-solving, teamwork, and technical applications.

A big congratulations and thank you to the Maranatha SeaPerch team! You have made Maranatha’s name shine on a new STEM field of underwater robotics, and we wish you the very best in the 2018 International SeaPerch Challenge Competition.