Merion Mercy’s ROV Team Shines at SeaPerch

In January, students in Dr. Karen Wendling’s Honors Physics class dove into an exciting hands-on project: building aquatic robots for SeaPerch, an international program where teams design, build, and compete with their own remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). SeaPerch not only introduces students to essential engineering, design, and science concepts but also fosters critical 21st-century skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation.

On March 21, 2025, Merion Mercy Academy made waves at the regional SeaPerch competition hosted by Temple University. The school’s ROV earned first place in Pool Performance and secured second place overall, qualifying the team for the international competition — a remarkable achievement that reflects their hard work.

While teams in Dr. Wendling’s class built eight robots in several different styles, the first completed and tested robot was used for the SeaPerch competition. The students who built the selected ROV were seniors Tessa Lynch, Lauren McCormick, Alison Owens, and Rafaela Utreras-Castro. As the competition took place during spring break, not all team members could attend. Elisabeth Bailey ‘26 prepared and delivered the team’s oral presentation online in advance of the competition. Stepping up to represent Merion Mercy at the event were Christina Flanagan ‘26 and Hannah Turek ‘26, who joined Alison for the big day. Christina, Hannah, and Alison expertly piloted the ROV, earning bonus points for their excellent verbal communication. Science teacher and robotics expert Ben York accompanied the students to the competition, as Dr. Wendling was out of the country.

The competition challenged students across several categories:

• Vehicle Performance — Assessing the ROV's design, construction, and functionality in the pool.
• Oral Presentation — Evaluating the team’s ability to effectively communicate their engineering process and promote their ROV.
• Design Notebook — Judging the team’s organizational skills and thorough documentation of their project.
• Spirit & Sportsmanship — Recognizing teams that recognize and encourage better solutions and engineering. 

Merion Mercy’s participation in SeaPerch has a special legacy, having been previously led by the late Dr. John Durkin. Stepping into those big shoes, Dr. Wendling is eager to build on that foundation. "I look forward to reinvigorating the program and hope to start a new legacy. It’s a great experience for the students," she shared.

This competition exemplifies one of Merion Mercy’s core values: Educational Courage. Mercy students welcome the challenge of pursuing their full potential in a culture of excellence, critical thinking, and curiosity. The SeaPerch experience is more than just building robots — it’s about embracing challenges, pushing boundaries, and growing through the journey. The students' hard work and success reflect a commitment to engagement, a thirst for knowledge, and personal responsibility, all of which prepare them to thrive for a lifetime.

Congratulations to these talented students for their outstanding performance and for proudly representing Merion Mercy Academy on the regional stage.