Sea Perch Makes a Splash in Virginia
By Greg Trauthwein
SEAPerch Final Standings -- April 26, 2008 George Mason University, Fairfax Campus Overall (School) 1st: Battlefield HS (BHS)
It's difficult to pick up a marine or subsea industry publication these days and not find a dire article regarding the dearth of qualified candidates to fill technical positions today and tomorrow. While there is, indeed, a drastic current and looming shortage, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon, as evidenced by the recent success of the SEAPerch program. "The fact that close to 600 students, over an eight-week period, followed a newly-created curriculum focusing on engineering and design concepts including buoyancy, propulsion, design, tool safety, and most importantly that they needed to work together in small teams to complete the project, documenting the process all along, was the first win," said Susan Giver, SNAME's Marketing
and Communications Director, and the director of SNAME's Outreach efforts. SEAPerch in Prince William County Schools is an eight-week curriculum. SEAPerch is an innovative program designed to encourage students to consider careers in engineering, an initiative developed by MIT, teaming with the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), made possible through a grant from the National Naval Responsibility Initiative/Office of Naval Research. Late last month a broad and diverse group from industry, government and academia teamed to deliver an outstanding day-long SEAPerch -- the Prince William County Schools SEAPerch ROV Competition Day -- an event that attracted 150 students forming 42 teams from nine schools, held April 26, 2008 at the George Mason
Maneuvering Game 1st: WHS-5 (James Olphan, Eric Portillo) 2nd: .BHS-4 (Nick Nelson, Isaiah Richburg, Allesio Touma, Cuu Godfrey) 3rd: BHS-6 (Cody Burke, Zavier Stringfellow) Recovery Game 1st: BHS-6 (Cody Burke, Zavier Stringfellow) 2nd: BHS-9 (Enrique Diaz, Jose Mora) 3rd: WHS-5 (James Olphan, Eric Portillo) Collaboration Game 1st: . .HHS-3/BHS-6 (AJ Habib/Cody Burke, Zavier Stringfellow) 2nd: BDHS-6/HHS-1 (Erik Kelley/Reynaldo Cervantes) 3rd: BDHS-1/FPHS-5 (Tatiana Zenalz/Constantine Ferrara) T-Shirt Design 1st: BHS-3 (Eric Saenz, Tristan Lora, Mike Pesce, Cody Tewell) 2nd: BHS-2 (Andrew Riley, Cody Key) 3rd: BHS-9 (Enrique Diaz, Jose Mora) Research Paper 1st: BDHS-4 (Jacob Katuin, Dylan Mohammed, Andrew Erwin) 2nd: . .BHS-5 (Dalton Briand, Andrew Castles, Matt Barrett, Michael Pulice) 3rd: .BHS-4 (Nick Nelson, Isaiah Richburg, Allesio Touma, Cuu Godfrey) Innovative Design 1st: . .BHS-3 (Eric Saenz, Tristan Lora, Mike Pesce, Cody Tewell) 2nd: FPHS-1 (Megan Gazzelli, Nathan Tabbert) 3rd: SWHS-1 (Beckie Broussard, Olivia Humphreys) Robot Strategy 1st: BHS-6 (Cody Burke, Zavier Stringfellow) 2nd: BHS-3 (Eric Saenz, Tristan Lora, Mike Pesce, Cody Tewell) 3rd: BHS-4 (Nick Nelson, Isaiah Richburg, Allesio Touma, Cuu Godfrey) Overall (Teams) 1st: . .BHS-5 (Dalton Briand, Andrew Castles, Matt Barrett, Michael Pulice) 2nd: .BHS-4 (Nick Nelson, Isaiah Richburg, Allesio Touma, Cuu Godfrey) 3rd: .BHS-3 (Eric Saenz, Tristan Lora, Mike Pesce, Cody Tewell)
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) and a host of corporate sponsors provide the funding and support which makes Sea Perch a reality.
SCHOTTEL for the Shipping World
CP Propellers for Top Requirements
� Optimized hydrodynamic propeller design � Robust, proven hub technology � Competence working to your advantage
University, Fairfax (Va.) campus. This was reportedly the first-ever subsea robotic competition in the state of Virginia. "SEAPerch offers schools a low-cost, hands-on project that takes maritime engineering out of the textbook and into the water, which is exactly the kind of approach we need to let students find inspiration in places where they previously saw only difficulties," said Duane S. Mason, Systems Engineer, SAIC -- Defense and Maritime Solutions."The culmination of the project was the Sea Perch Challenge," said Giver. "When you have hundreds of 9th graders from all across a large county gather to showcase and compete with their vehicles they themselves built together, and present their designs to a committee of engineers and scientists, you empower the student in so many ways."
"JANUS and URSUS are the best vessels we have ever put into service. The SCHOTTEL systems and the bollard pull meet our expectations to the full."
Capt. Klaus Dieter Mayer Managing Director Harms Bergung Transport & Heavylift GmbH & Co. KG, Germany
SCHOTTEL, Inc.
5804 River Oaks Road South � Harahan, LA 70123 - USA Tel.: (+1) 5 04 / 7 29 41 10 � Fax: (+1) 5 04 / 7 29 41 20 eMail: nmoerkeseth@schottel.com � www.schottel.com
70
Maritime Reporter & Engineering News