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Two Years in a Row: Flagler County Middle Schoolers to Showcase Underwater Robotics Skills on Global Stage

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Buddy Taylor Middle School SeaPerch team, Team Swift Sharks, competed in the Greater Jacksonville SeaPerch Regional Competition on April 13 at the Cecil Aquatic Center. Team members, shown from left, are James Webb and Alexander Magnal.
Two Years in a Row: Flagler County Middle Schoolers to Showcase Underwater Robotics Skills on Global Stage
Flagler Schools

(Flagler County, Fla.) - Buddy Taylor Middle School (BTMS) SeaPerch Advisor
Tracy Jones continues to inspire her Eagles to new heights. However, for the BTMS
SeaPerch program, their latest global adventure will hardly be uncharted waters for the
Flagler Schools underwater robotics designers.

BTMS seventh-grade students James Webb and Alexander Mangal turned their
most recent performance into a berth into the International SeaPerch Competition being
held at the University of Maryland on May 31 and June 1. Their second place finish at the
Greater Jacksonville SeaPerch Regional Competition April 13 earned “Team Swift Sharks”
one of the coveted spots. BTMS student Luke Chrzanowski will also be attending as an
alternate.

Teams invited to the international competition are considered to be among the Top
5% in the world. Just one year ago, BTMS students Lucas Strunk, Sophia Costa and
Nathan Cabrera Delombard (Team Manta Rays) also earned a spot at the international
competition after their performance on the regional level last spring.

“This program aims to teach students engineering skills in a fun and creative setting,”
Jones said. “Using only the materials provided in their kits, students are challenged to
design and build their entries from the ground up.”

SeaPerch is a program designed to teach students how to construct Remotely
Operated Vehicles (ROV) to work underwater. SeaPerch introduces students to basic
engineering, design and science concepts involving robotics. As a fun hands-on project,
SeaPerch engages students and fosters key 21st century skills including critical thinking,
collaboration and creativity.

This year, the BTMS SeaPerch program shared a community outreach effort at
Water Safety Day at the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club. In shedding light on the
number of drownings each year, SeaPerch students constructed a project that shared the
dangers of certain bathing suit colors and their visibility in pools versus open water.

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Buddy Taylor Middle School SeaPerch team,

Buddy Taylor Middle School SeaPerch team, Team Swift Sharks, competed in the Greater Jacksonville SeaPerch Regional Competition on April 13 at the Cecil Aquatic Center. Team members, shown from left, are James Webb and Alexander Magnal.

Buddy Taylor Middle School SeaPerch teams.

Buddy Taylor Middle School SeaPerch teams, Team Swift Sharks and Team Manta Rays, competed in the Greater Jacksonville SeaPerch Regional Competition on April 13  at the Cecil Aquatic Center.