Wilmington Regional SeaPerch Competition

Middle and high school teams from across the region competed in the Wilmington Regional SeaPerch Competition on March 14 at the UNCW Natatorium, showcasing their underwater robotics skills.

More than 30 teams registered for this year’s event, including several competing for the first time — including UNCW’s Upward Bound program — a sign of the program’s continued growth in southeastern North Carolina.

SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program in which students design and build tethered, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). During the competition, teams navigate their ROVs through a series of underwater challenges that test engineering, problem-solving and teamwork skills.

Each year’s mission course is based on real-world issues. This year’s challenge focused on storm response, requiring students to apply their designs in simulated emergency scenarios.

“It is exciting to see interest in SeaPerch growing in our region,” said Michelle Hafey, CESTEM program associate. “We also owe special thanks to MarineQuest for partnering with CESTEM on this competition. They provide diver support, lifeguards and lane judges, as well as assistance with event logistics. We are very grateful for their support.”

Three teams advanced to the International SeaPerch Competition, to be held the weekend of May 30 in College Park, Maryland: the Mayo FMC Middle School Team from Myrtle Grove Christian School, Cukhoi from Cape Fear Center for Inquiry and Team Right from Laney High School.

Hosted annually by the Watson College of Education’s Center for Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (CESTEM), the Wilmington Regional SeaPerch Competition is one of more than 100 qualifying events held worldwide.

Since 2011, the SeaPerch program has expanded to reach students in all 50 states and more than 35 countries, engaging an estimated 250,000 students each year through competitions and training.

About CESTEM

CESTEM partners with schools, businesses and the broader community to promote STEM education through professional development, a technology loan program and regional competitions, including the Regional Science and Engineering Fair, Science Olympiad and SeaPerch. For more information, visit the CESTEM website.