By Lt. j.g. Allison Islin, PHIBCB 2
Judge Lt. Cmdr. Waldram (center) observes a student demonstration.
On May 31, students gathered from all schools in Virginia Beach to compete in the annual Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Robotics Challenge. The theme this year was sustainability, as students demonstrated and raced their robots to pick up recyclables and trash on the bottom of a simulated ocean floor. From 4
th grade through high school, the students were involved in two levels of competition, each proving both fun and intellectually challenging. Each robotics team built two robots, while following strict construction guidelines and constraints. On competition day, the teams faced off against each other, and were given five minutes to gather the maximum amount of recyclables and trash from the ocean floor into their team container, using only their two robots. The teams were given extra points for teamwork between their robots, and for collecting prized items, hidden underneath the simulated ocean floor.
The PHIBCB TWO Wardroom arrived in full strength to the Convention Center and helped judge the Level 1 team face-offs. The long day ended with many smiles, friendly competition, and a new love of STEM possibilities!
Left to Right: LTJG Eifes, LCDR Waldram, LCDR Dasher, LTJG Islin, LT Hightower, LT Whitehosue, CDR D'Andrea, LT Fitzgerald, LCDR Bach. (Not Pictured: CAPT Campbell, LT Jemmott, LT Krushinski, LT Thrun.)