Seniors Keari Parris and Jerry Thomas, who make up the ScubaRays, will travel to Atlanta, Ga., and compete in the National SeaPerch Challenge on May 19-20, 2017 at the Georgia Tech Aquatics Center.

The Ivanna Eudora Kean High School (IEKHS) ScubaRays won first place in the St. Thomas-St. John district's second annual SeaPerch Robotics Competition held Saturday, April 1, 2017 at the Bellavista Scott Hotel pool. Seniors Keari Parris and Jerry Thomas, who make up the ScubaRays, will travel to Atlanta, Ga., and compete in the National SeaPerch Challenge on May 19-20, 2017 at the Georgia Tech Aquatics Center. Kean’s Aquabots and Raybots placed second and third, respectively. 

The competition is sponsored by the Virgin Islands Department of Education, Office of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research, Science and Technology. Six teams representing three schools participated in this year’s competition. In addition to IEKHS’s three teams, Charlotte Amalie’s Hawks, and Gifft Hill’s Sea Poochers and Underdogs all built underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and completed an underwater obstacle course, activities the winning ScubaRays will again undertake as part of the national competition--but this time on a much larger scale.

The SeaPerch Program provides students with the opportunity to learn about robotics, engineering, science, and math while building an underwater ROV as part of a science and engineering technology curriculum. Throughout the project, students will learn engineering concepts, problem solving, teamwork, and technical applications.

The Department of Education and the United States Navy thank everyone who played an integral role in ensuring a successful event to include Mr. Joseph Chada and Petty Officer JosaphatSateney from the U.S. Navy. Special thanks to the VI and Puerto Rico Navy recruiters, future sailors who assisted with the competition and the Bellavista Scott Hotel.