HomeMy WebLinkAboutROV Traning and Competition1.Name of the project:Olympic Coast Remotely Operated Vehicle Training and MATE ROV Competition
(OC-ROV)
2.Lead organization and Contact:
Programmatic Contact:
Christine VanDeen -Education Associate for Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Christine.VanDeen@noaa.gov
(360)504-6165 (work)
115 East Railroad Ave
Suite 301
Port Angeles,WA
98362
Fiscal Point of Contact:
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
Deanna Balistreri-Operations Program Manager,Education &Outreach
deanna@marinesanctuary.org
8455 Colesville Rd Suite 1275,
Silver Spring,MD
20910
3.Start and end dates for your project:January 1,2024 -June 15,2025
4.Deliverables:List and identify their final date of submission (report and/or products)to include 5 quality
project photos,an MRC newsletter article,and end of project presentation to the MRC.
Summary and photos of Olympic Coast MATE ROV competition season and ROV training activities for
MRC Newsletter by June 15th,2024 and June 15th,2025.
5.Project staff:
Christine VanDeen,Education Associate with National Marine Sanctuary Foundation for Olympic Coast
National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS)and Olympic Coast MATE ROV Regional Coordinator
Christine implements both classroom and field science K-12 lessons and activities that enhance ocean
literacy and inspire the next generation of ocean stewards.In addition,she also supports community
outreach events and beach cleanups and provides teacher professional development to the Olympic
Coast communities.She has a B.S.in Marine Science with a Biology focus and has worked as an
environmental educator for the past six years,providing hands-on,experiential learning to students and
other education professionals.Christine served as the Washington Service Corps AmeriCorps member
for Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary from 2017-2019 and has enjoyed supporting the Olympic
Coast MATE ROV competition for several years.She recently earned an M.A.in Teaching Secondary
Science and obtained her Washington State teaching certification,while gaining critical formal education
experience at the high school level.She re-joined Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary in 2023 after
completing her master’s degree and now holds a more permanent position there through the National
Marine Sanctuary Foundation.
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Andrea Schmuttermair,ROV Education Coordinator,Teacher at Sea Alumni Association,National Marine
Sanctuary Foundation
Andrea works with NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Alumni Association (TASAA)providing ROV professional
development to educators across the country.She taught in the upper elementary classroom for over
fifteen years in schools stateside and abroad.Andrea is passionate about experiential education and in
2017,was awarded the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching grant,through which she spent six
months in Finland researching project-based learning and STEM education.She developed Project ROV in
collaboration with scientific research stations in Finland and has built underwater ROVs with her students
in the United States and Germany.
Bringing her experiences full circle,she developed Project ROVe,a professional development program in
marine technology for educators.Project ROVe gives educators the knowledge and confidence to learn
about marine technology and implement place-based STEM projects in their classrooms.Since its
inception in January 2022,Project ROVe has reached over 4,000 students from across the country by
providing support to 30 teachers through online and in-person courses.In the 2022-2023 school year,
seven educators implemented ROV projects in their classrooms,and two competed at MATE ROV
competitions in Spring 2023.
Andrea graduated from the University of San Diego with degrees in education and German and received
her Master’s in Educational Technology and Leadership from The George Washington University.
6.Partners:List and describe partners:include whether they are providing matching contribution(s)of cash,
in-kind materials,supplies,equipment,labor,etc.Support letters may be attached.
a)The Marine Technology Society (MTS)is the administrator and organizer of the global MATE ROV
Competition and a partner in all MATE regional and international competitions.For the purposes of this
project MTS (see also attached Letter of Support):
●Will provide staff time and equipment for an initial mentor workshop in Fall 2023 to assess needs
during grant period and may provide additional staff time for mentor workshops during grant
period as needed.
●Will permit at least one new Ranger team to participate in a future MATE World Competition.
●Has given permission for us to incorporate their training materials into our professional
development activities and to modify as needed.
●Is responsible for setting all safety standards and requirements,all product demonstration
challenges and prop building directions,and the judging template and rubrics.
●Provides regional website maintenance and support and co-manages online registration.
b)Teacher at Sea Alumni Association (TASAA),a professional development organization funded through a
grant from NOAA Fisheries and supported by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation will:
●Provide staff time and travel for workshops and online courses.
●Provide ROV equipment and tools for mentor workshops.
●Provide an online platform and learning management system for the virtual course for new
mentor training.
●Provide documentation and review of assignments for teachers/mentors to be able to receive WA
Clock hours and/or graduate credits from the University of St.Francis.OCNMS is already an
approved WA State Clock Hour provider.
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c)The University of St.Francis is a graduate credit provider that TASAA has partnered with so that
workshop participants can apply for graduate credits for any of the coursework,which can be used
toward renewing teacher licensure and salary advancement.
7.Geographic Area:
We will engage students and mentors from communities adjacent to Olympic Coast National Marine
Sanctuary including schools and communities within the reach of the North Pacific Coast Marine
Resource Committee (such as Neah Bay,Forks,and La Push).Students from Lake Quinault School District,
Taholah School,and Port Townsend have also historically participated in the Olympic Coast MATE ROV
competition.Additional funding to support mentors from outside of the reach of the North Pacific Coast
MRC may be pursued through other channels as needed.Inclusion of teams from the greater Olympic
Coast region adds value,cohesion,and overall benefit to participating teams.The annual Olympic Coast
MATE ROV competition currently happens in Forks,WA.
8.Permits:
●Competition Insurance.
●Photo and video releases for NOAA/NMSF and any other applicable organizations.
9.Project Narrative (up to 5 pages not including attachments):
a)Abstract:Provide a 1-2 paragraph project summary in the form of a short description that highlights the
narrative that follows.
The Olympic Coast Remotely Operated Vehicle Training and MATE Inspiration for Innovation
Competition (OC-ROV)uses remotely operated vehicles (ROVs)to engage students in science,
technology,engineering and math (STEM)and prepare them for modern,technical careers.Additionally,
through their involvement,students hone 21st century skills including:team management,strategy,
entrepreneurship,and problem-solving as they tackle missions modeled after real-world,aquatic
workplace scenarios.We believe that by engaging and preparing students and their mentors in ROV
education and competition,we are preparing them for the 21stcentury workplace,while exposing them
to a lucrative and growing career pathway in marine technology.
As the program works to grow and enhance existing ROV student opportunities for the Olympic Coast
community,funding through the North Pacific Coast Marine Resource Committee will be used to
support annual student workshops,team mentor training and support,and in-person competition
events for teams in 2024 and 2025.Olympic Coast Remotely Operated Vehicle Training and MATE
Inspiration for Innovation Competition is seeking $20,347 in funding to support these activities.
b)Describe the background and context:project area,situation to be addressed,past work relevant to
the project.
Ocean literacy,broadly defined,is an enduring understanding of the ocean’s influence on people and
people’s influence on the ocean in a manner encouraging lifelong attitudes of ocean resource stewardship
and personal commitment.Enhancing the public’s awareness and appreciation of natural and cultural
resources of Olympic Coast is a cornerstone of the sanctuary’s mission,which follows directly from
mandates of the National Marine Sanctuary Act.
The K-12 students of the Olympic Coast communities are the next generation of stewards,scientists,and
educators of their local resources.Because of this,Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS)
has both a strong obligation and interest in providing local schools and communities with access to marine
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science and STEM education activities that meet educational standards,while fulfilling local needs
identified by our regional educators.
Designing and building ROVs requires students to experiment,innovate,collaborate,think critically,and
reflect—skills we want to develop in our leaders of tomorrow.Building ROVs not only helps teachers
integrate Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS),but allows them to do so while using cutting-edge,
innovative technology in an engaging and transdisciplinary way.
The MATE ROV Competition is open to middle school (grades 5-8),high school (grades 9-12),community
and technical college,4-year university students,home-schooled students,and students in afterschool
programs.There are five MATE ROV Competition classes including Scout,Navigator,Ranger,Pioneer,and
Explorer.The last seven years of the Olympic Coast ROV Project have seen much growth in interest and
participation from students in Olympic Coast communities.Additionally,the program has grown the
number of teams participating at more advanced levels.For example,in 2017,there were eleven teams
participating at the Scout level (the most basic/entry-level class)and only one team at the Navigator level.
In May 2023,however,of the ten teams that competed,six competed at the Navigator level,marking the
highest level of Navigator participation in the history of the Olympic Coast MATE ROV competition,
clearly illustrating student readiness to be challenged further.See Attachment A for the Olympic Coast
ROV Project History and Attachment B for a thorough explanation of MATE Competition Classes and
the breakdown of Olympic Coast teams by class over the years.
During the most recent workshop,Olympic Coast ROV mentors discussed the needs and aspirations of
the Olympic Coast ROV program.It was identified then,that some mentors had student teams
approaching the Ranger level of competition.Mentors stressed the desire to support these teams locally,
which would necessitate additional mentor training and support,benefitting both Navigator and Ranger
level competitions.
Based on our past experiences and feedback from mentors and students,the following factors serve as a
guiding light in this proposal:
1.The students of Olympic Coast are ready for the opportunity to extend their skill set in the world
of ocean science and underwater exploration while representing their home area.
2.The mentors of Olympic Coast are actively requesting additional support and training to foster
the growing demand for technical knowledge required to support students participating at a
higher level.
3.The STEM skills fostered and acquired through the implementation of ROVs in the classroom and
the participation of students in MATE competitions locally relevant and critical in 21st century
careers.
4.Exposing students and mentors to this technology connects them to career pathways in a unique
and growing field that isn’t well represented in traditional textbooks and is of increasing
importance in the management of resources along the Olympic Coast.
5.Creating a community of practice for mentors in this community will further enhance their
ability to support students by increasing their content knowledge and confidence,in addition to
ensuring program sustainability through the creation of a strong and supportive network of
education professionals.
Preparing students and mentors to participate in MATE ROV competitions is not a means to an end.The
competitions merely formalize and reward a process through which students learn,problem solve,reflect
and revise,push their boundaries,acquire career and technical skills,connect with experts,and form an
intellectual community.They use their skills to solve modern day problems through the MATE
competition challenges.For example,the 2023 MATE World Championship competition challenged
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students to “engineer an ROV and the necessary sensors and tooling to,for example,produce clean
energy by installing floating solar panels amongst offshore wind farms and ensure healthy environments
by monitoring the recovery of seagrass beds…The overarching goal is to motivate students from around
the world to understand and apply their creativity to innovating technology solutions to,as the U.N.states
‘deliver,together,the ocean we need for the future we want.’”
We feel that by supporting student and mentor involvement in ROV education on the Olympic Coast,we
are creating a unique opportunity for students from our small and special community to access resources
more commonly found in larger school districts and urban centers.Furthermore,our students’unique
perspectives and close connections to the marine environment create a remarkable point of engagement
for students to connect their real world experiences to new learning outcomes.
c)Explain why the project is appropriate for MRC funding or how it achieves one or more of the six
benchmarks (See Appendix A attached).
The Olympic Coast Remotely Operated Vehicle Training and the MATE ROV Competition (OC-ROV)
meets the MRC benchmark of Education and Outreach through coordination and implementation of
education and outreach programs with other organizations.Students participating in ROV programs
offered through coastal schools (including course curricula,after school groups,and clubs)supported by
OCNMS,MATE,their communities,and the Olympic Coast MATE ROV Competition,are better prepared
to enter the marine workforce with confidence and experience in critical thinking,teamwork and problem
solving.In addition,introduction to marine and aquatic topics through K-12 programming increases
lifelong connection to and sense of stewardship for the ocean environment.
Additionally,we believe that the MRC benchmark of Coastal Communities would be addressed through
this program.Involvement in the Olympic Coast MATE ROV Competition allows coastal community
youth,including Coastal Treaty Tribe students,to develop skills that encourage them to become career
ready young professionals in the world of marine science and technology.
Opportunities like this are often limited in a rural educational setting.Students that are actively involved
in programs such as this may be able to follow career paths related to conservation,natural resource
protection and management,and engineering that might otherwise be less available to them.As more
students become involved in marine science,STEM,and natural resource related careers,their
communities and surrounding environments also benefit.
d)List and describe the project objective(s).
Objectives for student workshops and the Olympic Coast MATE Regional ROV Competition include:
●Implementation of a student/team focused workshop prior to annual regional competition.
●Continued successful coordination and implementation of the annual Olympic Coast MATE Regional
ROV competition.
●Support for teams who are ready to compete at Ranger level,giving them the opportunity to
advance to the MATE ROV World Championship.
Objectives for mentor professional development include:
●Leverage existing training resources at the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the Teacher
at Sea Alumni Association to provide training and support for emerging and advanced mentors
through virtual and in-person workshops.
●Establish a community of practice to sustain and support local teacher leaders and improve the
mentor experience through networking and education.
●Build a network of ROV education alumni and industry experts for additional mentorship,
collaboration,competition support,and career pathway conversations.
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e)Provide a timeline for your project activities in relation to your stated objectives and the
deliverables identified in #4 above.
See timeline visual in Attachment C.
Preparation activities prior to grant start date (upon notification of receipt of funds):
●September-October 2023:Survey existing mentors to find areas of weakness to support,bring
together existing mentors for an advanced workshop.Survey and recruit additional Olympic Coast
educators who might be interested in participating in the ROV education cohort and training
beginning in January 2024.
Activities as part of grant:
●January-June 2024:Mentor online ROV cohort begins and runs through June 2024.
●February/March 2024:Olympic Coast MATE ROV Student Workshop (for existing students,one
school day at Olympic Natural Resources Center,~75 students)
○Focused developing ROV building skills,competition strategy,and troubleshooting challenges
prior to the 2024 competition.
○Participants include existing mentors and teams from schools within the reach of the North
Pacific Coast MRC such as;Quileute Tribal School,Forks Middle School,and Neah Bay High
School.As well as teams from Lake Quinault School District,Taholah Middle and High School,
and Port Townsend STEM club.
●May 2024:6th Annual Olympic Coast MATE ROV Competition.
●June 2024:Support Olympic Coast Mentor of the Year to attend the 2024 MATE World
Championship in Kingsport,TN.
●June 2024:Images and project reports available to NPC MRC.
●Summer 2024:In-person Design and Build workshop for mentors.Advanced mentors to support,
community of practice meeting among all mentors.
●Sept 2024:Mentors begin to recruit teams for May 2025 competition
●October 2024-April 2025:Ongoing support for all teams/mentors with guest speaker webinars for
students and mentors,virtual office hours for mentors for troubleshooting and advice from mentor
cohort and advanced members.
●February/March 2025:Olympic Coast MATE ROV Student Workshop.
●May 2025:7th Annual Olympic Coast MATE ROV Competition.
●June 2025:Images and project reports available to NPC MRC.
f)Describe the methods,procedures and equipment to be used,if any.
Student Workshops and MATE ROV regional competition:
●Workshop topics include but are not limited to:ROV body design and buoyancy,ROV manipulator
build and development,and camera system build.
●MATE regional competitions and student workshops adhere to strict safety standards for
competing teams,requiring teams to pass a safety check before any pool entry with their ROV
during competition.
●“Triage”stations,where teams can access tools to aid in last minute mechanical,electrical or design
emergencies on competition day,will also adhere to the same strict safety standards.
●Materials for pool challenge props will be borrowed from the PNW MATE competition in Federal
Way,WA.
Teacher/mentor training:
●Will use all appropriate tools and safety equipment.
●Online cohort will use an online learning management system to access course materials.A supply
kit will be provided for mentors to use throughout the online course.
●In-person workshop:topics include but are not limited to:ROV body design,buoyancy,
manipulator build and development,and camera system build.
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g)Describe the extent or impact of the project (e.g.,acres,miles,number of citizens).
The Olympic Coast MATE ROV competition will aim to have at least ten competing teams
reaching approximately 40-50 students from around the Olympic Coast,including students from
the Makah Tribe,the Quileute Tribe,the Hoh Tribe,and the Quinault Indian Nation.
The competitions will also directly reach at least 25-30 community members and regional volunteers,
many of whom are long standing volunteers,that support the event as safety judges,product
demonstration judges,poster and presentation judges,along with other event coordination.In addition
to the direct community involvement,local newsletters and papers often share the results of the
competition,casting a much wider awareness throughout Olympic Coast communities and beyond.
Professional development for emerging and advanced Olympic Coast mentors will connect educators
with industry experts and other educators involved in ROV education across the country.We currently
support six mentors from five schools and approximately 40-50 competing students and hope to grow
this number to include more mentors,schools,and students.
Lastly,with support from TASAA and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation,we will document this
project through blogs and possibly short videos that follow students and mentors along their ROV
education journey.These communications will be promoted locally and through social media and other
online news outlets.
h)Indicate if there are plans to continue the project into the future.
The Olympic Coast Remotely Operated Vehicle Training and MATE Competition (OC-ROV)plans to
continue into the future while attracting and supporting new students and mentors.By creating a
community of practice of emerging and advanced mentors,we hope to ensure program success and
sustainability over the long-term.
Comments from mentors and MATE ROV alumni are extremely positive (see Attachment D for
Mentor Testimonials).The teams and schools that participate in the Olympic Coast MATE ROV
competition proudly display their trophies and awards and look forward to challenging themselves
each year.Some of our Olympic Coast MATE ROV program alumni have gone on to participate in
undergraduate and career opportunities related to or specifically focused on their involvement in
the ROV competition.We would like to see even more Olympic Coast MATE ROV program alumni
follow this pathway into STEM-related career fields,and will strive to support them through the
opportunities that our workshops,competitions,and community networks can offer.
We intend to continue to grow the impact of this project by implementing robust professional
development for mentors to support their students more confidently at advanced levels.Teams that
are ready to compete at Ranger class and beyond (which would allow them to compete at the MATE
ROV World Championship)will require more advanced support.Additionally,we hope to get more
schools within the Olympic Coast region involved,expanding the learning opportunities for students
in the area.
Lastly,this program will serve as a model of how a National Marine Sanctuary can engage local
educators and students as well as scientists and other partners in advancing STEM education.The
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation intends to use this model to engage other Sanctuaries in
similar,ROV-related education and outreach.
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10.Estimated Budget Olympic Coast MATE ROV 2024-2025
Category Month/Year Event Type
(MATE ROV
Competition,
Student
workshop,
Mentor
Workshop)
Detail MRC
Request
Matching
Contributi
on
(not
required)
Total
Contracted
services
May 2024 MATE ROV
Competition
Pool rental for
Forks Athletic and
Aquatic Center
(One Day)
800.00 0.00 800.00
Contracted
services
May 2025 MATE ROV
Competition
Pool Rental for
Forks Athletic and
Aquatic Center
(One Day)
800.00 0.00 800.00
Contracted
services
May 2024 MATE ROV
Competition
Event Insurance
for competition
(One Day)
400.00 0.00 400.00
Contracted
services
May 2025 MATE ROV
Competition
Event Insurance
for competition
(One Day)
400.00 0.00 400.00
Contracted
services
Summer 2024 Mentor
Workshop
3-day conference
room rental at
ONRC for mentor
workshop
900.00 0.00 900.00
Contracted
services
February/March
2024
Student
workshop
ONRC Meeting
space rental for
student workshop
(One Day)
500.00 0.00 500.00
Contracted
services
February/March
2025
Student
workshop
ONRC Meeting
space rental for
student workshop
(One Day)
500.00 0.00 500.00
Supplies/Equip
ment
May 2024 MATE ROV
Competition
Additional supplies
for pool props and
ROV triage station
as needed
150.00 0.00 150.00
Supplies/Equip
ment
May 2025 MATE ROV
Competition
Additional supplies
for pool props and
150.00 0.00 150.00
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ROV triage station
as needed
Supplies/Equip
ment
May 2024 MATE ROV
Competition
Trophies for
annual
competition
(1st-3rd for
SCOUT and
NAVIGATOR
classes)
300.00 0.00 300.00
Supplies/Equip
ment
May 2025 MATE ROV
Competition
Trophies for
annual
competition
(1st-3rd for
SCOUT and
NAVIGATOR
classes)
300.00 0.00 300.00
Supplies/Equip
ment
May 2024 MATE ROV
Competition
Food and
refreshments for
competition
participants and
volunteers (~75
people)
600.00 0.00 600.00
Supplies/Equip
ment
May 2025 MATE ROV
Competition
Food and
refreshments for
competition
participants and
volunteers (~75
people)
600.00 0.00 600.00
Supplies/Equip
ment
Summer 2024 Mentor
Workshop
ROV Textbooks for
10 mentors
1,200.00 0.00 1,200.00
Supplies/Equip
ment
Summer 2024 Mentor
Workshop
ROV PVC pipe for
10 mentors,deep
cycle batteries,
alligator clips,
battery chargers
1,555.00 0.00 1,555.00
Supplies/Equip
ment
February/March
2024
Student
workshop
Food and
refreshments for
workshop
participants and
volunteers (~75
ppl)
650.00 0.00 650.00
9
Supplies/Equip
ment
February/March
2025
Student
workshop
Food and
refreshments for
workshop
participants and
volunteers (~75
ppl)
650.00 0.00 650.00
Travel May 2024 MATE ROV
Competition
Lodging for
supporting staff
(OCNMS
Education
Associate and
AmeriCorps)
during competition
-estimated using
GSA per diem rates
for Clallam Co.
350.00 0.00 350.00
Travel May 2025 MATE ROV
Competition
Lodging for
supporting staff
(OCNMS
Education
Associate and
AmeriCorps)
during competition
-estimated using
GSA per diem rates
for Clallam Co.
350.00 0.00 350.00
Travel Summer 2024 Mentor
Workshop
3-day
breakfast/lunch
for 10-person
workshop
1,050.00 0.00 1,050.00
Travel Summer 2024 Mentor
Workshop
Lodging for 10
mentors at ONRC
to attend in-person
(3 day)workshop
run by Project
ROVe/TASAA in
Summer 2024
2,000.00 0.00 2,000.00
Travel May 2024 Travel
Support to
MATE ROV
World
Competition
2024
Travel support for
Olympic Coast
Mentor of the Year
to attend and
support MATE
ROV worlds in
1,500.00 0.00 1,500.00
10
Kingsport,TN
Travel February/March
2024
Student
workshop
Lodging for
supporting staff
(OCNMS
Education
Associate and
AmeriCorps)
during a workshop
at ONRC -
estimated using
GSA per diem rates
for Clallam Co.
350.00 0.00 350.00
Travel February/March
2025
Student
workshop
Lodging for
supporting staff
(OCNMS
Education
Associate and
AmeriCorps)
during a workshop
at ONRC -
estimated using
GSA per diem rates
for Clallam Co.
350.00 0.00 350.00
Travel Summer 2024 Mentor
Workshop
Stipend to cover
ancillary costs for
teacher travel and
attendance at
workshop
($50/day/teacher)
1,500.00 0.00 1,500.00
Indirect
expenses
January
2024-July 2025
Fringe/Salary Fringe/Salary for
Program
Operations
2,442.00 0.00 2,442.00
Grand Total 20,347.00
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Attachment A:
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Attachment B
MATE Competition Classes
●Scout -recommended for middle schools &high schools new to robotics
●Navigator -recommended for middle schools with robotics experience &high schools new to
robotics
●Ranger -recommended for middle schools &high schools with robotics experience,students must
be at this level to advance to the MATE World Championship.
●Pioneer -recommended for first time technical and community colleges and 4-year universities
●Explorer -most advanced level,recommended for universities,colleges,high schools that have
previously participated in the MATE ROV Competition
Breakdown of Olympic Coast ROV Team Classes by Year
●2017:1 Navigator,11 Scout
●2018:4 Navigator,9 Scout
●2019:5 Navigator,7 Scout
●2020/2021 -individual registrations and virtual competitions
●2022:3 Navigator,7 Scout
●2023:6 Navigator,4 Scout
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Attachment C
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Attachment D
Mentor Testimonials
Michael Kenney -Lake Quinault School District ROV Mentor
"Since beginning our ROV program six years ago,I have seen a marked increase in my student's ability to problem
solve and troubleshoot issues that arise.Additionally,their ability to collaborate with each other has helped them
in my classroom and beyond."
Alice Ryan -Quileute Tribal School ROV Mentor
"Olympic Coast MATE ROV has created a locally relevant challenge that has not only opened the eyes of my
students to the reality of ROVs,Robotics and STEM,it has awakened them to the issues facing our oceans and
Waterways today…Our local ROV competition has created a pathway for success for my students beyond HS
already."
Holly Keedy -Neah Bay High School ROV Mentor
"The Neah Bay High School team learned so many new skills while participating in this program,such as how to
soder and connect circuits.The other teams and all involved were incredibly welcoming and generous.We can't
wait to participate next year!"
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August 10, 2023
To Whom it May Concern: I am writing on behalf of the MATE ROV Competition to express our support for the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the Olympic Coast Remotely Operated Vehicle Training and MATE Competition
Project (OC-ROV). The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation are seeking funding from the North Pacific Coast Marine Resources Committee (NPC MRC) to
support the growth of their ROV program and subsequent participation in the MATE competitions. The MATE ROV Competition’s mission is to “inspire and challenge students to learn and creatively apply STEM skills to solving real-world problems in ways that strengthen critical thinking, collaboration,
entrepreneurship, and innovation and prepares them for the Blue Economy workforce.” MATE is rebuilding capacity in regions across the country and around the world, with a focus on reaching underserved
communities, and growing participation in the MATE ROV Competition in these regions. Supporting students and mentors to continue building these skills in Jefferson and Clallam Counties aligns with our mission and our goals.
Over the last several years, participation in the Olympic Coast Regional MATE competition has been expanding and students are beginning to compete at higher levels. We believe that through additional
investment, MATE can help this region expand access to ROV education for both mentors and students, leading to the engagement of students at higher levels of participation, including at future MATE World
Championships.
In addition to the support that we already provide regional teams, in support of this project we will:
1. Provide staff time, equipment (Barracuda or Triggerfish ROVs), and mentor travel funds for an
advanced mentor workshop in Port Angeles, WA in Fall 2023 so mentors will be ready to support
their teams once the grant period begins in January 2024.
2. Provide training materials that can be adapted and incorporated for student and mentor workshops
from January 2024-June 2025. Additional staff time for these workshops may also be arranged,
depending on the need.
3. Permit at least one new RANGER team to participate in a future MATE World Championship.
Please accept this letter as an expression of our support for the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and their ongoing efforts to serve students and mentors in the
Olympic Coast region.
Sincerely,
Jill M. Zande
Executive Director, MATE | Marine Technology Society
One Thomas Circle, Suite 700 | Washington, DC 20005
jill.zande@mtsociety.org | 202.827.7173 | MTS / MATE