<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><item href="/news/third-annual-seaperch-challenge-expands-robotics-for-students.php" dsn="blogs"><pubDate>03/17/2026</pubDate><title>Third annual SeaPerch Challenge expands robotics for students</title><main-featured>true</main-featured><category-featured>true</category-featured><summary>Louisiana Tech University welcomed middle and high school students from across the region for the third annual SeaPerch Challenge at the Lambright Sports and Wellness Center on Friday, March 6. The competition, which challenges students to design, build, and maneuver underwater remote-operated vehicles through an obstacle course, saw participation from 56 teams and 160 individuals involved overall.</summary><image><img src="/news/_images/seaperch-challenge-2026.jpg" alt="Young students insert a small remote-operated vehicle into an indoor pool"/></image><tags><tag>General News</tag></tags></item>