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SeaPerch team asks district to cover roughly $13,000 trip to nationals in Maryland
Summary
South El Monte High’s SeaPerch ROV team, which won the LA County regional competition, asked the board to help cover an estimated $13,000 cost to send eight students and two chaperones to the national SeaPerch competition in Maryland; the team has raised about $2,000 and received a $1,000 city donation.
South El Monte High School’s SeaPerch team told the board on April 1 that it has qualified for the national SeaPerch competition in Maryland and needs funding to attend. Advisor Michael Legaspi said the travel and registration cost is "a little under $13,000 for 10 people," that the club has raised about $2,000 and that the city contributed $1,000, and he asked the district to make up the difference.
Legaspi described the technical challenges the students overcame — waterproofing motors, repairing a propeller that came off during competition and preparing a technical design report and video — and said the club is seeking district or community donations to meet an approaching registration deadline. A student who spoke about the team's struggles and ultimate victory said, "We ended up winning, which is like crazy," describing the group as an underdog that persevered through breakdowns at prior competitions.
Board President Florento Briones publicly pledged a $100 donation on behalf of the board and asked those present to consider matching that contribution; she also gave instructions on where to deliver donations to support SeaPerch travel costs. Trustees discussed options for fundraising and the district’s typical practice for supporting extra‑curricular travel, with several expressing pride in the students’ accomplishment and interest in helping where feasible.
