As participants of the NAVY Seaperch Competition at the University of Texas – Pan American, the Harlingen High School and Harlingen High School South engineering teams made quite a splash at the competition.
For the second year, the HHS team, coached by pre-engineering teacher Gabe Valdez, placed third, while Paul Tenison’s team placed sixth
The HHSS team placed fourth, and were two points away from the next placement.
To compete, each team had to build an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). They were required to use low-cost, easily accessible parts and follow a guideline that focuses on basic engineering and science concepts with a marine engineering theme.
To assess a score, ROVS and their drivers competed in an obstacle course that tested precision and speed. Students also supported their design with an informal presentation given to judges regarding their strategy and execution.
There were over twenty teams from across the Rio Grande Valley competing.