Sparking Success
By Rebekah Hall
Published on Arkansas Living
May 5, 2025
Making Waves
the Junior Stock division.
By Rebekah Hall
Arkansas 4-H teams from across the state gathered at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Donaghey Student Center Aquatic Center for the 2025 SeaPerch Challenge, remotely navigating submersible robots through obstacle and mission courses.
Two hundred and twenty-six Arkansas 4-H members from 16 counties participated in the March 14 event.
Fifty-four teams worked to build remotely operated vehicles, or ROVs, using pieces of pool noodles, electrical tape, 3D printed parts, PVC pipe and other supplies. They then steered the ROVs through an underwater mission course and obstacle course, both designed to mimic undersea exploration or deep-sea missions. Teams were also judged on their technical design reports, where they documented the construction and engineering design process for the robots.
Michelle McVay, extension STEM instructor for 4-H and Youth Development for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the SeaPerch program is a great example of how 4-H helps participants learn by doing.
“Instead of just reading about engineering, they actually get to build and test underwater robots, figuring things out as they go,” McVay said. “This hands-on experience makes learning more fun and memorable. STEM programs like SeaPerch are super important because they teach problem-solving, teamwork and real-world skills that kids can use in school, their careers and beyond.”
The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas take pride in working closely with the Cooperative Extension Service and Arkansas 4-H.
Roedel said, “The values of Arkansas 4-H, the Cooperative Extension Service and the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas closely align, as we all exist to serve. The SeaPerch program is just another example of a service that our partnership provides to The Natural State.”
The overall winning Junior and Senior Stock teams, Open Class team and High Score Overall team will compete at the International SeaPerch Challenge May 31-June 1 in College Park, Maryland.
Rebekah Hall is communications program specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
