You will see the tradition of Washington Island students going to the University of Maryland for the International SeaPerch Challenge continue in 2024. Sponsored by the North Coast Marine Manufacturing Alliance, the team Fast & Furious took second place at the Ashwaubenon Regional competition on Saturday, earning Washington Island’s third straight bid with at least one team making it to the international competition held in College Park, Md. The school narrowly missed out on a second consecutive year where they had two teams qualify for the competition, with Team JAWS taking third place. Teacher Miranda Dahlke continues to marvel at how her students turn their preparation into success at the regional competitions to earn a trip to internationals.

Carrying the theme of deep-sea exploration, the International SeaPerch Challenge will take place on May 31st and June 1st. Supported by the Door County Maritime Museum, local teams participated in a practice earlier this month at the Door County YMCA, where they could practice with the robots in the pool just like they do during regional and international competitions. Competitors undergo two challenges in the pool and an oral presentation with judges.