MAYPORT MIDDLE SCHOOL ROBOTICS

Robotics has been a part of Mayport Coastal Science Middle School for 7yrs. The Robotics Club participates in the SeaPerch Program (underwater robotics) each year. The SeaPerch Program students range from 5th to 12th grade and started in 2003. As an integrated STEM education program, SeaPerch guides participants through a real-world engineering and design project centered around building an underwater ROV.

Through Regional and International Competitions, Mayport has accumulated between 40-50 trophies and awards. Just last year, Mayport won Middle School Internationals that took place at the University of Maryland. They went up against 200 teams from all around the world like Dubai, China, Brazil, India, New Zealand, and Australia.

Winning is great, but these students really commit themselves to the program and put in around 200hrs each year (weekday afterschool and weekend pool practice). This helps them learn the Engineering Design Process, 3D Design, Commitment, Respect, and Teamwork.

This season, Mayport has 15 students on the team. They completed the Houston Regional in November and won 1st place. Next is the Jacksonville Regional in March hosted by our club for any school in Northeast Florida or teams that travel. Then we have a SeaPerch hosted Regional in Jacksonville in April. Last, we have Internationals in June.

Mayport Sharks Robotics Club is seeking your support. Our goal is to ensure that every student who wants to participate in the Robotics program will have the opportunity to do so. Your donation will help us accomplish this goal by providing scholarships to these deserving students. Your donation will also go towards paying expenses to help run the program such as equipment, uniforms, competitions, travel expenses, etc.

Every year, the Robotics Club must find funding to provide supplies for creating the ROVs including tools, 3-D printing materials, electrical equipment, power sources, pool course materials. This is very costly, but our biggest challenge is finding the funding to send a dozen students, their coaches and parent chaperones to the 3-day international event, which will be held at the University of Maryland near Washington D.C.  Mayport Middle School, which sponsors the club, is a title 1 school, therefore, many of the children’s families do not have the means to travel to the international competition. The cost associated with participating in the international competition include the following:

BUDGET

$2,450 International Competition Registration Fee – $250 per team for the ROV and $100 students per team member and coach/chaperone.

$5,100 Flights – $300 per member for 14 members and 3 coaches/chaperones. SeaPerch requires one coach per team and doesn’t allow coaches to coach multiple teams. We fly because the kids need to be fresh for the rigorous challenges including ROV testing, compliance checks, pool competitions and graded interviews with judges.

$1,100 Ground Transportation – One 15 passenger van. The event is held on the University of Maryland campus and requires the club members and coaches/chaperones to travel from lodging to various events starting at 8AM and ending at 10PM. Also needed for transport to and from the airport.

$8,148 Lodging and Food – Federal reimbursement for DC area $139/night lodging, $55 meals for 14 persons for 3 days. We have investigated Airbnb but due to needing a pool and number of rooms we couldn’t find an adequate place or places that would be less than hotel costs.

$16,789 Total cost for the club to travel, stay and compete at the international competition.
We believe that the Mayport Robotics Club has shown the world what children and families from Duval County are capable of when they are taught to dream big, collaborate, and put in the effort needed to be number one on an international stage. I hope that businesses and other donors from our region will see ours as an inspiring story and lend the support we will need to allow our new members to experience the thrill of competing in an international STEM competition in June 2024.
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2023-2024 FAME Board

Michael Simon (Director, President)
Thomas C. Larson (Director, Co-Treasurer)
Fatima K. Phd Rehman (Director, Co-Treasurer)
Kayle Dykes (Director)
Kevin Epps (Director)
Quovadis Epps (Director)
Gregory Rodriguez (Director)
Erwin Ruiz (Director)
Lyndza Ruiz (Director)
Patricia Saetern (Director)
Thomas Schmucker (Director)
Johanne Shelton (Director)
Friends at Mayport for Education (FAME) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization set up to support the program and other Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School programs as directed by donors. All donations are tax deductible (EIN number 83-3700251). Electronic payment is available via the below QR Code. We are also able to receive checks and will provide receipts.

Make checks payable to:
Friends of Mayport for Education, Inc.
For/Memo: Robotics Club

Mail to:
Friends at Mayport for Education (FAME)
P. O. Box 49024
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32240

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Contact us: donations@friendsatmayport.org

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