SIGMA SEVEN

 

Spirits are high and creative juices are flowing as we kick off our 2012-2013 Sea-Tech year. As per the usual, we opened the year by electing our club officers. Our 2012-2013 president is Sierra McNeil, and our Vice President is Matthew Atilano. The roles of Secretary, Treasurer, Historian and Reporter are Shelby Hiem, Emily Walker, Michael Janicki and Madison Walkup respectively. This year the club is divided into three teams: two Ranger and one Explorer class. Our three Team Advisors are: Lee McNeil, Jay Cocheba and Peter Janicki, as well as our Special Advisor Jonah Leason. 

Mr. McNeil’s team has chosen the name Europa. Their captain, Preston Peterson, is a club veteran: aptly chosen to head a team consisting greatly of students new to Sea-Tech. Over the past few weeks team roles have been decided, as well as a basic design strategy. The team wishes to improve the Explorer class ROV Genesis design, building upon the knowledge base that has increased since its construction. They anticipate success in the MATE 2013 competition. 

Mr. Cocheba was the advisor to the highly successful Scout team last year. The team has retained most of its members this year, adding a few new faces to the mix. Now competing at the Ranger level, the youngest Sea-Tech members are determined to outdo themselves. They have chosen the name Eurybia, after a sea-goddess whose name means “wide force”. They plan on studying and improving upon the design of ROV Neptune in the interest of time and resources. 

The Explorer class team hit the ground running this year, and has a fairly solid design plan, as well as structured team assignments. Headed by Stanley Janicki, recipient of the prestigious Grover award, the team has high hopes and expectations for the upcoming competition. They have chosen the name ΣVI, SIGMA being an acronym for “Students for Innovative Global Marine Analysis” as well as fitting into the theme of Greek letters. The six was inspired by one of the greatest engineers of all time- Tony Stark, and the fact that ΣVI will be our sixth explorer class ROV. 

With the release of the Mission Tasks, and the finalization of design plans, the next weeks will fly by quickly. The spirit of “home-court advantage” has gotten hold of Sea-Tech, and the enthusiasm already displayed promises an exciting year. The MATE 2013 ROV competition will no doubt prove to be our greatest victory yet.