Idaho Falls Elementary Teams Head to National Robotics Competition, Need Community Support
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Two student teams from Westside Elementary School are preparing to represent Idaho Falls on a national stage, having earned spots in the SeaPerch Competition in Washington, D.C. — but the trip still depends on community fundraising to get them there.
The competition draws more than 130 teams from across the country and internationally, challenging participants to pilot underwater robots through a series of obstacle courses within a set time limit. For the young engineers from Westside Elementary, simply making it to nationals is already a significant achievement.
Elementary Schoolers Outlast Older Competition
The two qualifying teams are the Soaring Sharks — made up of McKenna Taggart, Claria Ence, and Everlee Graham — and the Underwater Conquistadors, consisting of Bentley Boucha, Cullen Rainey, and Thomas Jones.
What makes their advancement especially notable is that they beat out middle school competitors to get here. “We’re one of the only elementary teams, and we beat out seventh- and eighth-graders,” members of the Soaring Sharks noted in remarks to local media.
The SeaPerch program is designed to give students hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Teachers guide students through the full process — from designing and building their robots to competing with them at regional and national levels. It mirrors the kind of practical STEM engagement that programs like the CEI Ag Tech Robotics Challenge for high schoolers have brought to other East Idaho students in recent years.
What the Competition Looks Like
According to the Underwater Conquistadors, the nationals event features two distinct challenges. The first involves navigating a robot through a series of five hoops arranged horizontally and vertically underwater — completing the course and returning through the hoops as quickly as possible. The second is a mission-based course in which teams complete a series of tasks, each worth a set number of points, with the goal of accumulating as many points as possible within a 20-minute window.
The format rewards both precision and speed, demanding the kind of focused teamwork and technical problem-solving that the SeaPerch curriculum emphasizes throughout the school year.
Trip Funding Still Short of Goal
Despite the accomplishment of qualifying, the teams face a practical hurdle: covering the cost of the Washington, D.C., trip. Teachers working with the students described the experience as a rare opportunity, noting that the itinerary includes a tour of the U.S. Capitol building and outreach to Sen. Mike Crapo’s office.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” teachers said, adding that the teams are still working toward their fundraising goal. Approximately $4,000 more is needed to cover all remaining expenses for the trip.
Community members who want to help send these Idaho Falls students to nationals can contribute through the team’s Venmo fundraising account. Details are available through Westside Elementary School.
The competition is scheduled for this weekend, making the fundraising window short. Supporters are encouraged to act quickly if they wish to contribute before the teams depart.
What Comes Next
The Soaring Sharks and Underwater Conquistadors will head to Washington, D.C., this weekend to compete against more than 130 teams from across the nation and internationally. Results from the SeaPerch national competition are expected following the event. Bonneville County News will continue to follow local student achievement in STEM and robotics — for more on how East Idaho schools are navigating technology challenges, see our recent coverage of the Canvas cyberattack that disrupted thousands of schools across the region.