Flagler Middle School Robotics Team Headed for International Competition

Students from Flagler County's two middle schools are headed to an international competition in underwater robotics, the school district announced last week. Three teams will participate in the International SeaPerch Competition on May 30 and 31 at the University of Maryland. Those who are selected to compete in the competition are considered to be in the top five percent of teams in the world, Flagler Schools says. This will be the third straight year that Flagler is represented. The young engineers test their skills at the Palm Coast Aquatics Center. The three teams are made up of students from Buddy Taylor Middle School and Indian Trails Middle School. Per an announcement from Flagler Schools, their rosters of eighth-graders are as follows. Team Great Whites Ashton Barnes (BTMS) Levente Beregszaszi (BTMS) Alexander Dattolico (BTMS) Robert Peters (BTMS) The Ammonites Nathan Cabrera Delombard (BTMS) Noah Johnson (BTMS) Lucas Strunk (BTMS) The Oranges Alexander Mangal (BTMS) Zachary Zelic (ITMS) The International SeaPerch Competition is held by SeaPerch, an initiative launched to increase college enrollments in engineering-related fields. The program introduces students to the technology of constructing Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), which work underneath bodies of water. SeaPerch Advisor Tracy Jones will be taking the three teams to Maryland later this month. "What started as a way to teach engineering skills has become a successful program that helps set the standard among our peers," Jones said.