2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 137
BY SENATOR HEWITT
A RESOLUTION
To commend the outstanding performance of the Lake Castle Slidell Private School
Robotics Team at the 2023 International SeaPerch Challenge.
WHEREAS, the Lake Castle Slidell Private School, which opened in 1987, continues
to uphold its motto of excellence in education; and
WHEREAS, the intellectually skilled sixth and seventh-grade students comprising
the 2023 Lake Castle Private School's Robotics Team, also known as Team Viper,
impressively secured a spot within the top fifty among the extensive pool of over one
hundred SeaPerch teams globally; and
WHEREAS, SeaPerch is a competition and community which fosters the
development of students in constructing underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROV),
while providing educators with resources and training to facilitate the journey, ultimately
enriching the skills of STEM professionals worldwide; and
WHEREAS, dubbed more than just a program, the SeaPerch international program
is a community, infused with local elements, striving to diminish conventional obstacles to
engage in state-of-the-art robotics programs, while equipping STEM professionals with
practical and interconnected learning content that bridges the gap between academia and
real-world applications; and
WHEREAS, the SeaPerch Program extends beyond the realm of constructing
underwater ROVs, it also encompasses a nurturing ecosystem comprising students,
educators, mentors, and advocates, uniting to conquer the world, pool by pool through the
prestigious SeaPerch Challenge, an exclusive invitation-only event where teams that excel
in this registered regional contest earn their coveted opportunity to compete in the
culminating event, the annual International SeaPerch Competition; and
WHEREAS, at the 2023 Regional SeaPerch Challenge in Marine Robotics, held at
the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland, Team Viper not only secured an
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invitation but triumphed, earning an impressive ranking among the top fifty teams out of
more than one hundred international participants; and
WHEREAS, after showcasing impressive engineering skills through technical papers
and presentations, Team Viper was recognized by the SeaPerch Program and RoboNation,
a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering students in finding innovative solutions
to global challenges through immersive educational experiences, earning a fourth-place
ranking in the Mission Course Ranking, a third-place ranking in the Obstacle Course
Ranking, a forty-fourth ranking in the Technical Design Ranking, a thirty-ninth ranking in
the Team Video Ranking, and an overall praiseworthy fourth-place position among their
international counterparts; and
WHEREAS, Team Viper and three other high schools from the United States will
proudly serve as representatives of the Gulf Coast region in the upcoming 2023 International
SeaPerch Competition, showcasing the undeniable validation and testament to the
effectiveness of Lake Castle Slidell Private School's commitment to their educational
excellence school motto and following the principle stated by Plato, "The direction in which
education starts a man, will determine his future life."
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED with an amalgamation of exceptional educators,
a dynamic and forward-thinking curriculum, and well-structured classroom settings, the
Lake Castle Slidell Private School SeaPerch Robotics Team can proudly bask in the
international limelight, celebrating the remarkable achievements of being among the very
best at the 2023 SeaPerch Challenge.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does
hereby commend the Lake Castle Slidell Private School Robotics Team, known as Team
Viper, for their remarkable victory in the 2023 International SeaPerch Challenge, and offers
sincere congratulations on their outstanding international achievement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
principal of the Lake Castle Slidell Private School, Brian J. Butera.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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