A team of five students from Warrenton middle and high schools has qualified to compete in the MATE ROV World Championship next month.

Middle school teacher Heidi Lent is preparing the student robotics team known as the Warrenton Rays for their third world championship competition in four years.

The team clinched first place at the annual Oregon Marine Advanced Technology Education Remotely Operated Vehicle, or MATE ROV, competition in Newport earlier this month, securing their spot at the world championship competition, which will take place in Alpena, Mich., June 19-21.

The team makes their own underwater robots that complete tasks in indoor pools. Without looking in the pool, team members use waterproof cameras to direct the robot to simulate activities that are needed in the real world, such as taking water samples and picking up underwater objects.

“For me it’s exciting when they can go to competitions,” Lent said. “But I have to teach them how to compete. Every week, every month, staying late, trying to steer them in the right direction.”

Lent dedicates the majority of her evenings and Saturdays to the robotics program.

Working with retired Boeing engineer Craig Battles, Lent has developed a proven training regimen that consistently produces winning results.

Warrenton teams regularly secure first-place honors at regional robotics competitions and have amassed an impressive trophy case that sits just outside of Lent’s classroom.

“If we could change one kid’s life as far as a career path and have some sort of impact in that regard it would be amazing,” Lent said. “It’s a lot of work. I wouldn’t give it up for the world.”

Lent is a big proponent of the MATE ROV program, which was created to help students develop science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, skills and prepare them for careers in engineering and robotics. Her team has worked hard, she said, and she’s excited to see how they fare at this year’s competition.

“I think we’ll do fine,” she said. “The goal is to have some fun, meet some people from other countries and do the best we can.”

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/05/29/warrenton-students-set-to-make-waves-in-world-robotics-championship/