Underwater Robotics Program
My name is Alicia Johal and I am an 8th grade science teacher at Mar Vista Academy. MVA is located in Imperial Beach, CA. I am raising money to support our SeaPerch Robotics program for the 3rd year in a row. Last year we did the program through a grant funded with a local science organization in San Diego. This year we had the building kits donated and we are fundraising for the rest of the materials we need!
The money raised will pay for the SeaPerch kits ($150 each) team tshirts (20 students, approx $200), registration fees for the competition ($210 for all 6 teams), snacks for building/meeting days (chips, granola bars, juice boxes), and ROV supplies we may need to replace when necessary like soldering irons or pvc pipes. The money will also be used to pay for school buses which will take students to and from their test dives at the Living Coast Discovery Center, and Spring competition (average cost is $490 per trip).
The funds will be used as soon as they are raised, we launch SeaPerch in January, 2017. This year's students are eager and excited to be a part of the legacy!
I began this program 2 years ago and was inspired and excited by the passion my students had for engineering. Yes we get to do fun science labs in class during the school day. But the after-school robotics program brought something different. It taught skills in collaboration, problem solving, troubleshooting, and communication for the students. They taught each other how to solder, how to waterproof a motor, how to cut PVC, and more. I got see a different side of my students through this program - I saw true engineers. Getting to work alongside 40 dedicated student engineers has been a highlight of my teaching careeer. Our first year, 10 teams competed in San Diego and earned an honorable mention, with the highest number of teams representing one scool. Last year, we received the Nancy Taylor Inspiration Award!
Giving middle school students an opportunity to do real life science and explore careers in engineering can change the trajectory of their lives. Many of the 8th grade students from last year went on to the high school to join larger robotics clubs, engineering electives, and the marine biology academy. Many have comeback asking me when SeaPerch will start so they can help out. This was the first underwater robotics program the school had, and I know the impact will be life long. I would be so thankful for your support of our students future in science.
Check out our website from last year here:
http://vikingseaperch.weebly.com
For more information about our school, or our students, please don't hesitate to contact me!
[email redacted]
