[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 123 (Friday, August 1, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1301]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING JOHN HANCOCK COLLEGE PREP HIGH SCHOOL ON THEIR AWARD AT 
   THE 2014 MATE INTERNATIONAL REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE COMPETITION

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                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 31, 2014

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate John Hancock 
College Prep High School and their Underwater Robotics team on their 
award in the 2014 MATE International Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) 
Competition. I appreciate all of the hard work and dedication the team 
members have put in to build their ROV and would like to congratulate 
them on this tremendous accomplishment.
   The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center created the 
ROV competition in partnership with the Marine Technology Society ROV 
Committee to encourage students to excel in mathematics and science and 
to pursue careers in these fields. The MATE competition brings together 
K-12, community college, and university students from all over the 
world to design and build ROVs based on scenarios from the ocean 
workplace. In addition to engineering their ROVs, students were 
required to create technical reports and presentations to be delivered 
to competition judges.
   In June, John Hancock College Prep High School traveled to Thunder 
Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena, MI after advancing from the 
Midwest regional. In competition with 29 other teams, they were awarded 
the ``Biggest Bang for Buck Award'' in the Ranger category for spending 
the least amount of money on a vehicle that performed exceptionally. 
Their underwater ROV, the ``Aquatic Eagle'', was designed to be a low-
cost option for shipwreck and science investigations, as well as for 
conservation efforts. It was equipped with a camera, four motors, two 
hooks, and flotation devices. This is the first year that John Hancock 
College Prep High School has competed in the MATE contest.
   The team included Hancock seniors Irving Alamilla, Jesus Caballero, 
Vincent Calderon, and Marisol Ramirez as well as juniors Carlos 
Barrios, Ivan Lopez, and Jennifer Mondragon. Ms. Jennifer McConnell 
Stites, a science teacher at John Hancock College Prep, was a mentor to 
the team.
   John Hancock College Prep High School is a high school focused on 
college preparation, community service, and leadership. The school 
opened in 1999 and is located in the Third Congressional District on 
the Southwest Side of Chicago.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating John 
Hancock College Prep High School on their remarkable achievement and I 
wish them the best in the future.

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