[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 6, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  MARY MAREK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ADVANCES TO NATIONAL SEAPERCH CHALLENGE

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                            HON. PETE OLSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 6, 2016

  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Pearland, TX 
Mary Marek Elementary School Aqua Tigers, for placing third in Open 
Class at the National SeaPerch Challenge at Louisiana State University.
  The U.S. Navy National SeaPerch Challenge is an underwater robotics 
competition. Mary Marek Elementary School qualified for nationals by 
finishing in the top seven overall teams at the regional competition. 
The team built and operated their own remotely-operated vehicles that 
function underwater and are designed to complete an obstacle course. 
The SeaPerch Challenge competition judges the students' underwater 
vehicles in poster and interview first, and then two underwater 
challenges follow. The first being an obstacle course and the second 
being an orbs challenge where the students move different sized balls 
into submerged containers. The students develop problem-solving, 
teamwork and technical skills through this competition. The Aqua Tigers 
were awarded 3rd Place over in Open Class and 3rd Place Obstacle Course 
for Open Class. We are very proud of what these bright young students 
have accomplished.
  On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, 
congratulations again to the Mary Marek Elementary School Aqua Tigers 
for placing third at the National SeaPerch Challenge. We look forward 
to following the competition. Keep up the great work.

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