TCAPS’ SCI-MA-TECH program, located at Traverse City Central High School, has received a three-year grant award of $30,000 from the Convergence Education Foundation (CEF). In each year of the grant, funds from CEF will be used to send several engineering teams from the SCI-MA-TECH program to compete in the underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Building Competition, sponsored by the Marine Advanced Technology Education Center.

In year two and three of the grant, SCI-MA-TECH students will develop a mother ship prototype to be used as a base for the ROV. The grant will also provide for education outreach, including teacher workshops and student presentations to professional organizations and will help create the opportunity for students to investigate the use of advanced technologies and materials suitable for ROV construction.

Convergence Education Foundation is a coalition of automotive and electronics industrialists and educators with a common vision and belief that today’s students should be provided the opportunity and motivation to pursue technology oriented careers through the early introduction of science, mathematics, and engineering in school learning environments. It is CEF’s mission to positively influence the thinking and participation in engineering, science, and math-based projects in schools.

Mentors in engineering, motor control, and optics are currently being sought.  Please contact SCI-MA-TECH Teacher Keith Forton at 933-8536 or Traverse City East Junior High School Teacher Than Dykstra at 933-7317 for more information. Information on the Convergence Education Foundation can be found at www.cef-trek.org.