America’s Navy hosts Annual SeaPerch Competition at HESTEC 2016

Photo By Burrell Parmer | HARLINGEN, Texas (Oct.7, 2016) Sailors of Navy Recruiting District San Antonio and Navy City Outreach Southwest Region pose with students of Harlingen High School, who won first place in the U.S. Navy-sponsored SeaPerch Competition held at the Harlingen Aquatic Center during the 2016 Hispanic Engineering, Science and Technology Week (HESTEC). Thirty-three high school teams competed in the event which consisted of an underwater obstacle course, ring pick-up and a display presentation. SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program sponsored by the Office of Naval Research 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. The goal of the event was to spark students' interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). HESTEC Week is an educational conference that features events geared towards promoting STEM education to people of all ages and backgrounds. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, Navy Recruiting District San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)  

HARLINGEN, TX, UNITED STATES

10.07.2016

Story by Burrell Parmer 

Commander, Navy Recruiting Command

Continuing to spark students' interests in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), Sailors of Navy Recruiting District (NRD) San Antonio and Navy City Outreach Southwest Region put students' ingenuity to the test with a SeaPerch Competition held at the Harlingen Aquatic Center during the 15th Annual Hispanic Engineering, Science and Technology (HESTEC) Week, Oct. 7.

SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program sponsored by the Office of Naval Research 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.

More than 33 high school teams from throughout the Rio Grande Valley participated in the competition which also served a SeaPerch Regional Qualifier.

The competition consisted of an underwater obstacle course, ring pick-up, and a display presentation.

“The students showcased their skills and abilities to maneuver their SeaPerch ROVs,” said Senior Chief Therese Rogers, Navy City Outreach Southwest Region chief. “It’s important for the Navy to be here because we emphasize STEM.”

According to Rogers, the goal of the event was to spark students' interest in science and math and inspire them to be part of the next generation of engineers and scientists.

Ninety-nine percent of career fields in the Navy are STEM-related,” said Rogers, a native of League City, Texas. “We are a technical organization and we are looking to network with organizations and cultivate students for possible careers in the Navy.”

The winner of the SeaPerch Competition was Harlingen High School with Early College High School placing second and San Isidro High School placing third.

“A lot of hard work and hours paid off,” said Paul Tenison, an engineering teacher and sponsor of the Engineering Club at Harlingen High School. “We have been involved for the past several years and it is one of our most favorite events to compete at due to the short time period for preparation which was four weeks.”

After completing the obstacle course, the teams were interviewed by civilian volunteers and Sailors from NRD San Antonio.

“We encouraged the students to demonstrate team work and professionalism during the process, which they enjoyed tremendously,” said Lt. Diana Tran-Yu, Navy City Outreach Southwest Region officer and native of Houston. “We thank the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley for hosting HESTEC 2016 and we look forward to partnering and cooperating with the university next year.”

HESTEC Week held Oct. 3 – 8, is an educational conference that features events geared towards promoting STEM education to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Through the support of sponsors and partners, to include the U.S. Navy, HESTEC strives to empower teachers and administrators with the resources to inspire their students to pursue STEM careers through Educators Day; engage secondary level students in STEM-related, hands-on activities and presentations during Student Leadership Day, Latina Day, Robotics Day, Middle School Challenge and SeaPerch Challenge; provide university students with employment and internship opportunities during the College Symposiums and Fall Career Expo; and involve the community as a whole in Community Day.

• Date Taken: 10.07.2016
• Date Posted: 10.08.2016 16:59
• Story ID: 211618
• Location: HARLINGEN, TX, US
• Hometown: BATON ROUGE, LA, US
• Hometown: HOUSTON, TX, US
• Hometown: LEAGUE CITY, TX, US
• Hometown: SAN ANTONIO, TX, US