MUN SailBot team competed in international sailing competition

The MUN SailBot team competed in the International Robotic Sailing Regatta at Camp Bauercrest on Lake Attitash in Amesbury, MA, June 4–9, 2023.

The team placed third in the payload event, fourth in the station keeping challenge and for their technical presentation.

The team said they are happy to have successfully competed at the IRSR, and that the opportunity gave them a chance to showcase their hard work, apply their engineering skills in real life and bond as a team.

There were some challenges throughout the competition, including getting the sailboat shipped to the U.S., and mechanical and electrical setbacks during the competition prevented the team from competing in the fleet races. However, the team was able to problem-solve themselves and with the other teams in order to make the most of the remainder of the events.

The team said that, overall, they are very happy with how well their sailbot performed in the events they competed in. They are taking what they learned this year to identify areas for growth in preparation for next year’s competition. ■■■

Substantial scholarship has profound impact for first-year engineering student

The annual scholarship is valued at $50,000 with $10,000 awarded annually for five years. Renewal is dependent on the recipient continuing engineering studies at Memorial and maintaining scholarship standing.

Mr. Smith grew up in Outer Cove, N.L., and graduated from Gonzaga High School in St. John’s.

In high school, Mr. Smith prioritized staying on top of his school work and making sure he maintained high academic standing. He is very grateful to the Kohler family for the financial support.

“To the Kohler family, I would like to say that I am nothing but grateful for what you’ve done for my family and I,” he said. “The impact that this has and will continue to have on me is nothing short of life-changing. I could go on and on about how much this means to me, but it all boils down to ‘everything.’ Thank you very much for the opportunity you’ve provided me, and I will do my best to remain deserving of it.”

The scholarship means a lot less financial stress for Mr. Smith, who plans to study mechanical engineering once his first-year studies are complete. ■■■