STOCKBRIDGE, MI., March 3, 2026 – The Stockbridge FFA’s Underwater Robotics Team recently completed a service project in the Dominican Republic on February 22nd through the 28th, 2026. While in the Dominican Republic, Stockbridge FFA members and their advisor worked with both students and staff at the Puntacana International School, or PCIS.

The Dominican Republic (DR) is a vibrant Caribbean nation on the island of Hispaniola, known for its beautiful beaches, rich culture, and tropical climate, with its capital and largest city being Santo Domingo. Sharing the island with Haiti, the DR offers diverse geography from mountains to arid valleys and a unique blend of history and modern life. 

Stockbridge FFA members who traveled to the Dominican Republic include: Lucy Chapman, Daulton Diffenbaugh, William Gancer, Anya Harden, Owen House, Haley Warren, Taurin Phillips, and the team’s faculty mentor, Stockbridge Jr/Sr. High School Teacher and FFA Advisor Bob Richards.

While in the Dominican Republic, Stockbridge students worked with students at the Punta Cana International School. Puntacana International School’s mission is “To provide learning experiences to enable students to reach their academic, leadership, and entrepreneurial potential through critical thinking and to encourage a socio-ecological consciousness.”

The goal of the project was to Inspire, Engage, and Educate students while providing a unique research and experiential learning experience in the Caribbean Islands for Stockbridge students, ultimately enabling Puntacana International School the ability to develop its own underwater robotics program.

During their time in the Dominican Republic, Stockbridge FFA members conducted an underwater robotics workshop for students at the Puntacana International School.  During the workshop, Stockbridge students taught basic agricultural engineering skills such as electrical wiring, soldering, and problem-solving.  During the underwater robotics workshop, Stockbridge FFA members provided twelve hours of direct instruction in underwater robotics to PCIS students. By the end of the workshop, students were able to build twelve underwater robots.  These underwater robots, or ROVs, once disassembled at the end of the workshop, provide the Puntacana International School with twelve reusable underwater robotics kits that can be used in the future to teach the basics of underwater robotics in their classrooms. 

Stockbridge students also gave eight presentations to various student, staff, and community groups.  Stockbridge students not only explained underwater robotics but also life in Stockbridge with their Dominican peers, showing that we are more alike than different.  From these interactions, Stockbridge students learned about life and culture in the Dominican Republic as well. 

In addition, Stockbridge FFA members had the opportunity to visit the Puntacana Marine Innovation Center to learn about efforts to protect and restore coral reefs in the Dominican Republic. The Stockbridge FFA has been interested in coral reef restoration since being challenged by Palauan President Tommy Remengesau Jr. to use underwater robots and marine technology to protect the ocean back in 2013. 

The Stockbridge FFA is making plans to return to the Dominican Republic in 2027, as well as hosting students from the Puntacana International School in the future…

For further information, contact Mr. Richards  (517) 851-7770 Ext. 6204 or richardsr@panthernet.net