Flagler County Middle Schoolers to Showcase Underwater Robotics Skills on Global Stage

Buddy Taylor Middle SeaPerch Teams Make Headlines,

Once Again Qualify for International Competition

Winning Team Caption:“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.”

Group Caption:“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.”

(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 for 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 on 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,” — Tracy Jones, BTMS SeaPerch Advisor

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 (ROVs) 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.

Flagler Schools strives to be the nation's premier learning organization. Our mission is to ensure educational
success through high expectations and innovative thinking in a safe learning environment to empower students to
reach their full potential as responsible, ethical, and productive citizens in a diverse and changing world. We can be
reached online at http://flaglerschools.com or https://www.facebook.com/FlaglerSchools and via telephone at
386-437-7526

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