Dahlgren School students showcase engineering skills at SeaPerch competition
Three middle school teams from Dahlgren School in DoWEA Americas delivered strong performances at the SeaPerch regional competition March 21 at the King George YMCA, facing 72 teams from across the region.
SeaPerch is a hands-on program that challenges students to design, build and pilot underwater remotely operated vehicles. The competition gives participants real-world experience in engineering principles, problem-solving, tool safety and teamwork — experiences that embody classical learning through practical inquiry and innovation.
In the obstacle course, teams navigated their vehicles through five angled rings, raced the length of the pool, surfaced and returned, all within a four-minute limit and two attempts. Dahlgren’s teams recorded times of 1:42.38, 2:09.07 and 2:23.
The mission course, themed Storm Response, required students to simulate community recovery efforts after a major storm. Tasks included closing a floodgate, rescuing displaced wildlife, clearing heavy debris, adjusting pipes, releasing floats, collecting water samples and completing precision placements — all within 10 minutes. The scenario reinforced civic responsibility and collaborative problem-solving under pressure.
Each team also presented its ROV to a panel of judges and submitted a detailed technical report on its design process and engineering decisions.
Final standings are still being tabulated. Top teams are expected to advance to the international SeaPerch competition at the end of May.
Dahlgren students rose to the challenge with creativity and determination, demonstrating the innovative spirit and sense of service that DoWEA Americas seeks to cultivate through classical learning, civic engagement and patriotism.
