Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Chris Fahey | 170325-N-VN372-003 HOUSTON – (March 25, 2017) Navy Career Counselor 1st Class...... read more read more
More than 40 recruiters from Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Houston teamed up with the Navy’s City Outreach Southwest team for the regional SeaPerch underwater robotics competition at Manvel High School Saturday, March 25.
More than 150 teams (400+ participants) from elementary, middle and high schools across the Houston and Dallas school districts competed to advance to the National SeaPerch Challenge at Georgia Tech University in May.
Although the top 7 teams moved on, the young “Swift Sharks” from Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary School beat out all others, walking away as the top winner.
“Seeing how much energy those kids put into this and the pride they had after winning was very empowering,” said Navy volunteer Engineman 2nd Class David Callazo from NRD Houston. “Technology and children are our future. Seeing that together was amazing.”
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM, is the Navy’s gateway to building leaders in the science and technology industries; SeaPerch is a STEM-related underwater robotics program that provides teachers and students with the resources they need to build an underwater remote operated vehicle (ROV) using low-cost, easily accessible parts. The purpose is to introduce students of virtually all ages with basic engineering and science concepts in a real-world situation.
The SeaPerch competitions tests each team’s ability to master these concepts through three graded evolutions – a verbal interview with an accompanied presentation, an underwater obstacle course and underwater speed challenge.
“It takes an immense level of commitment,” said father Brian Towne, whose son was on last year’s SeaPerch national competition winning team. “This is good for my son because of how much he learns about the STEM related principles. This helps us work toward his goal of being an engineer.”
The Navy’s SeaPerch program allows teams to compete for college scholarships, making it a ready-made program for building the future leaders of tomorrow – in and out of the Navy.
“My son wants to go to MIT,” said Towne. “Who knows what tuition prices will be when he’s old enough to apply, so we need programs like this.”
Navy City Outreach Coordinator Senior Chief Petty Officer Therese Rogers led the event with the help of her partner Navy Lt. Diane Tran-Yu and the recruiters from NRD Houston. Rogers’ planning and fast coordination with parents combined with the help of her Shipmates, impressed participants, teachers and school officials.
“Every Navy person interacting with the kids was positive, encouraging and they seemed very excited to be there,” said William Teal, Alvin school district’s SeaPerch coordinator. “And that transferred over to the kids and parents. Additionally, the organization of the event was very laid back and moved at a much faster speed than previous events. I attribute that to Senior Rogers’ coordination. She managed this event very well.”
According to Rogers, the City Outreach Team’s purpose is to set a foundation for STEM academics and future STEM careers. The team works to establish an environment where they can support diversity in STEM fields and increase Navy awareness in all they do. This effort was echoed by Tran-Yu who said their team’s program is a success through the entire region which covers 5 Navy Recruiting Districts, totaling 9 states.
Navy Recruiting District Houston has a total of 42 Navy recruiting stations dedicated to finding the best and brightest men and women to serve in America’s Navy, while also conducting volunteer activities designed to help give back the city of Houston and the surrounding communities they serve.
| Date Taken: | 03.25.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 03.30.2017 14:50 |
| Story ID: | 228643 |
| Location: | HOUSTON, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 56 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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