McClure Middle School and North Paulding High teams swept M.A.T.E. South East Regional Competition

In 2011, an underwater robotics club was established by Science teacher, Nicola Lees, at Sammy McClure Middle School, in association with the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Over the years that followed, interest in the program grew and the club expanded to become a formal team at North Paulding High School, assisted by Math teacher Geoff Gardener. The 2016-17 robotics teams are comprised of nearly 50 students from all grade levels.
The objective of the club is to introduce the students to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) concepts in a fun and engaging way. The students construct underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV’s) that must be able to complete a series of simulated real life tasks. Each year, MATE hosts competitions among ROV teams with a unique theme and related tasks. The 2017 competition’s theme was the construction of a “hyperloop terminal” off the Port of Long Beach. The tasks included simulated underwater construction, sediment sample collection, and the opening/closing of valves, among several others. As a team, the students design and build all the components of the ROV, including the construction of the frame, programming computer controllers, and wiring electrical components.
The ROV team’s efforts culminated at the MATE South East Regional Competition in Savannah on April 22nd. This year there were 17 teams from various STEM approved schools, competing in three divisions. The teams from SMMS and NPHS swept the event, winning all three divisions. This was an enormous accomplishment and a testament to all the hard work and innovative problem solving that the members exerted. In recognition of this regional win, the NPHS team is now qualified to participate against teams from all around the world at the International competition in Long Beach, CA in June. Last year’s internationals included regional winners from the USA, Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Denmark, and Russia. It is an outstanding opportunity for Paulding County Schools to be represented on a global stage and to display our progress towards STEM accreditation.
For more information, contact Nicola Lees ().