First Flight High School

At its June 8 meeting at First Flight Middle School, the Dare County Board of Education recognized the latest in a series of continuing achievements by First Flight High School's ROV (remotely operated vehicle) team, coached by science teacher Andrew Thomas.  From left - Principal Arty Tillett, Charles Brady, Chris Brennan, Patrick Gray, Barry Lawler, BOE member Margaret Lawler, Sean O'Neal, ROV team mentor Andrew Thomas, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sue Burgess. (Team member David Spruill was unable to attend meeting; not pictured). The six-member team won the Mid-Atlantic Regional Marine Advanced Technology Education Centers (MATE) ROV Building Competition at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA on Saturday, May 15. This win earns them a spot in international competition in Hilo, Hawaii at the end of this month. In addition to focusing on their ROV and refining maneuvers, the team is seeking individual and business sponsorships to defray travel expenses. To learn more about their mission and to support their efforts, visit http://firstflightrov.com/. "Platinum" sponsors will have their logo placed on the 2010 FFHS ROV - ROMVY. In addition to Dare County Schools, sponsors include Outer Banks Surfrider Foundation, Kitty Dunes Realty,  Village Realty, Ace Hardware, SubConn, East Carolina Bank, and Dowdy and Osborne, CPAs.