Being a champion

and onto part two of the weekend

SEA PERCH 2016

The day after Isaac's school Prom, he was competing in an underwater robot competition at Temple. It is called Sea Perch and it is sponsored by the Navy. This competition is state and country wide, and for Pennsylvania we enter the competition as does The Naval Academy (who they beat every year) and a whole host of others. The total competitors for Pennsylvania is 27 schools.The objective is to design and build a robot that be must be able to navigate underwater on a timed course a series of obstacles and complete maneuvers. They have to complete a poster, a note book and do a presentation as well.

To say that Isaac has wanted to be in charge in the Sea Perch project over the years is an understatement. He has longed for this and for someone who rarely seeks the lime light and found these last few years at school a grueling grind this is one of a few bright spots. Sea Perch literally makes him walk taller (if that were possible). This year they made the Sea Perch club into an elected class and Isaac was thrilled. By also being in his last year of school he would be able to potentially be able to have more of a role. 

Well not only was he to become one of the leaders and they picked his design!!!. Isaac has been working and refining his design in his head for a number of years. Now that was just the icing. He felt so proud and I'm sure some anticipation too. Nothing like creating something, putting it in an under water setting and then expecting it to do a series of obstacles to put a tad of pressure on you. Especially as you have repeatedly told anyone within 5 yards, of course yours is the best design!. 

It was quite fortuitous that the competition was the day after Prom night. Because by this stage Isaac was in a fog of anticipation/angst about the actual competition the next day. Of course none of this is conveyed with words, just signals in the form of twitching and general distance of gaze and lying prone on his bed with one hand stuck out with a phone it in and playing cartoons close to the eye balls...this particular teenage language  lucky for him, I am completely fluent in.

So of course Prom was a breeze and home to bed for the early rise the next day. He was up and out around 6.30am wearing a pair trousers that he had relegated to the side lines in the closet and the team shirt I had to immediately wash as it has dinner on it from the night before...( I used to laugh at an old friends mum who would wash and dry and hang back in a closet his clothing worn on nights out...so by morning it was back for re wear!...I have now turned into said mother!!!!!). In addition I had no idea until I saw the team photo from the competition, that they had a uniform! But Isaac fitted right in and although technically not khaki trousers, light brown cords can pass as said khakis..who knew? 

The work that was put into the Sea Perch project involved a class each day and many hours outside of school in the form of team conferences by phone. Isaac really put the effort in and organized and helped nurture this group to perform to their best. He was a complete commander and did it really well. 

There are only two from each team who can go 'pool side'. Isaac was navigator and he is with Derek his pilot

This is there winning team!!!!

This is the returning hero!!!

Banners (I fixed a little 'well done' welcome! )

Proud champ with his well done poster and school logo that greeted him when he came home

ISAAC THE CHAMPION 

dream realized finally....(now that is a happy chap! tired but really happy).