ALPENA — The Alpena High School Remotely Operated Vehicle Team is gearing up for the Annual MATE International ROV Competition. This year’s international event will take place at the Kingsport Aquatic Center in Kingsport, Tenn., from June 20 to 22.

The team will be facing off against top teams from across the United States and several different countries, such as Egypt, Turkey, Russia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The team has a strong track record in previous competitions and is eager to continue their success at the international level.

As they prepare for this challenging competition, the Alpena ROV team is calling on the local community for support. The funds will help cover travel and equipment expenses, ensuring that the students can focus on showcasing their innovative engineering skills.

This year’s MATE competition theme is centered around the Global Ocean Observing System. The mission emphasizes protecting and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as unlocking ocean-based solutions to climate change. Teams are tasked with demonstrating their ROVs’ capabilities in a marine technology training tank, navigating through a series of rigorous challenges under strict time constraints. Additionally, teams must present their projects to a panel of judges, detailing their design processes and objectives, and capture the essence of their ROVs’ conception and purpose on a display board.

At the regional event, eighteen teams competed across three categories: scout, navigator, and ranger. Alpena’s success in the Great Lakes Regional Competition highlights their dedication, technical prowess, and teamwork.

For those interested in supporting the team, donations can be made directly to the Alpena High School ROV program. Every contribution helps these students continue their journey and showcase the talent coming from Northeast Michigan.

Temi Fadayomi can be reached at 989-358-5693 or tfadayomi@thealpenanews.com.