Thanks to their hard work and a robot named “JESI”, four Sevastopol students are preparing for an international competition at the University of Maryland in May. Eighth graders Jordyn Welch, Ezra Linnan, Sam Herrell, and Inho Lee qualified for the International SeaPerch Challenge thanks to a second-place finish at the regional competition in Green Bay last Saturday. While two students anchored the presentation, two others led their namesake robot through an obstacle course and a challenge where “JESI” had to clean garbage out of the pool. SeaPerch supervisor Chad Retzlaff was most impressed by the students’ composure during the competition, which included a battery meltdown.

Sponsored by several local organizations like the Door County Maritime Museum, Door County YMCA, and Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, Retzlaff says they are currently fundraising to cover the travel expenses to the competition, which takes place May 30th and 31st.

Photo provided the Door County Maritime Museum