Parkview School's Aquatic Robotics Teams Excel at Regional Competitions - One Team Qualifying to Compete in the International Seaperch Competition

For the second year in a row, a team from the Aquatic Robotics Club at Parkview School in the Mountain View School District has qualified to compete at the International Seaperch Competition at the University of Maryland on May 31.

Seaperch is an innovative underwater robotics program that provides students the opportunity to learn about robotics, engineering, science, and mathematics (STEM) while building an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), following a curriculum that teaches basic engineering and science concepts with a marine engineering theme.  Parkview’s club meets twice a week after school.

Parkview’s student team of Johan Covarrubias, Joshua Jimenez, David Andrade, Buoncent Priestley and Anthony Ramires, known as Team G.T.K. (Great Tasting Kelp), had a great showing at the Los Angeles Regional Seaperch Competition on February 24, the club's first competition of the year.  Showing off their aquatic robotics expertise, Team G.T.K. earned three first place trophies at the competition including First Place Obstacle Course, First Place Mission Course and Overall First Place Middle School. 

The triple first place honors led to Team G.T.K.’s entry into the International Seaperch Competition where they will be joining over 170 teams from the United States and U.S. territories to compete. 

Team G.T.K. and two other teams from Parkview’s club also excelled in their next competition, the Inland Empire Regional Competition at UC Riverside on March 23, coming away with six trophies.  Team G.T.K. earned First Place in the Obstacle Course and Parkview swept the Mission Course category, with The Swimming Pickles team of Jenna Tran, Noemi Laguna, Brinda Flores, Jizelle Campos, Daniel Miranda, Arianna Villa, Audrey Perez capturing First Place, Team G.T.K. taking Second Place and The Dolphins team including Axel Rodriguez, Angel Caudillo, Anabelle Cortez, Regina Trejo, Asileyna Vicente, Alex Ortega earning Third Place.  In the Overall Winner category, Team G.T.K. took First Place and The Swimming Pickles earned Third Place. 

MVSD is extremely proud of the Aquatic Robotics students and their coaches, Arlene LeGaspe and Herman Ruvlacaba along with apprentice coaches, Jose Davila and Olga Gallegos and looks forward to a successful trip to the International Competition next month.