FAU High SeaPerch Team Top in State, Second in World
Student teams from Florida Atlantic University High School and A.D. Henderson University School recently won five awards at the National SeaPerch Challenge at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth.
More than 70 percent of FAU's 30,000 students take classes at FAU's first and largest campus and the majority of the University's 175+ degree programs are based here. Located just three miles from the Atlantic Ocean and the beautiful beaches of Boca Raton, the campus features everything you expect from a modern university -- suite-style housing for nearly 4,000 students, brand-new athletics and recreational facilities, art galleries, a cafe/movie theater complex and so much more -- all in a vibrant, tropical setting with a student body that is the most diverse of all of Florida's public universities.
Student teams from Florida Atlantic University High School and A.D. Henderson University School recently won five awards at the National SeaPerch Challenge at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth. SeaPerch is an underwater robotics program in which students build Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) while learning basic engineering and science concepts.
The FAU High Sea Owls took home three awards at this year’s competition: first place in the poster presentation; first place in the technical presentation and interview; and second place in the finesse challenge, a pool competition where ROVs must perform precise and calculated movements. This is the third year FAU High has competed in the national challenge, and each year they have improved their ranking. They are now ranked second overall.
Two middle school teams from A.D. Henderson also competed this year. In the technical presentation and interview, the eighth grade “Sea Owls-8” team won second place, and the sixth and seventh grade “Sea Owls Sunrise” team took home third place. This is the second year the middle school has competed.
“We are extremely proud of our Sea Owls ROV teams at A.D. Henderson University School and FAU High School for their performance at the national competition, as well as their impact on our local community,” said Allan Phipps, STEM coordinator at FAU High and A.D. Henderson. “Our FAU Sea Owls have mentored more than 40 local middle school and high school SeaPerch teams, and have encouraged more than 250 local students to get their feet wet with this innovative STEM program.”
140 teams from across the country and Puerto Rico participated in the 2015 SeaPerch Challenge. The middle school and high school teams were each given a SeaPerch Kit plus an additional $20 budget. The Kitcontains three motors and propellers, batteries, a control box, wire cable, and PVC pipe to build the standard robot. The additional $20 allows for anything else except thrust motors. Teams then use their ROVs to compete in a juriedposter competition and in-pool technical events.
FAU High and A.D. Henderson teams were guided by Phipps, along with Suzette Milu, A.D. Henderson science teacher; Anie Darucaud, graduate student mentor; and Charles “Perry” Weinthal, parent and mentor. Student mentors were Janet Weinthal and Nodetty Vilbon.
For more information about the SeaPerch Challenge, visit seaperch.org.
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