Students from Neal Math and Science Academy paid a visit to the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) pool onboard Naval Station Great Lakes (NSGL) to participate in a test run of their SeaPerch remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), Feb. 22.

SeaPerch is an underwater robotics program which gives teachers and students the opportunity to build underwater ROVs. This is one program which promotes students skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

Kelly O'Conner, a science teacher at Neal, said her students form bonds with the Sailors who mentor them and look forward to every meeting with them.

"The students are excited to see the Sailors in the building and [are] impressed by their uniforms and demeanor," said O'Conner. "We also have enjoyed watching the excitement and enthusiasm on the faces of the Sailor volunteers when teams of students and Sailors make discoveries together. Our SeaPerch program would not be possible this year without the dedication, knowledge, and expertise of our friends from Surface Warfare Officers School Unit (SWOSU)."

Through the Partnership in Education Program, each school in north Chicago is assigned to a command at NSGL. Neal Academy is partnered with SWOSU and Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Chicago.

Assistant Community Outreach Coordinator for SWOSU, Engineman 1st Class Jeffery Kohn said his command's relationship with Neal Academy goes back about a year, and seeing a smile on the kids' faces is he what he loves about this program.

"Our partnership started last February; that's when we introduced ourselves to the school," said Kohn. "Watching these things go into the water and seeing the accomplishment that they actually created this with their bare hands and it's working properly, you can't replace that smile on their face."

These students are preparing for the regional qualifying SeaPerch event scheduled for March 18 at Recruit Training Command. For more information about SeaPerch, visit http://www.seaperch.org/index.

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For more news from Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, visit www.navy.mil/.