Marie dives into pool for Wahkiakum students
Good fun and great success, for Wahkiakum students, Ron Wright, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.
From the Wahkiakum County Eagle, 6 July 2023:
If you thought Marie Gluesenkamp Perez didn’t keep her promises, you’d be all wet.
As the story goes, a member of the Wahkiakum School District’s robotics team asked the Congresswoman for Washington’s Third District if the team could push her in the pool if they won the qualifier for this year’s International SeaPerch underwater robotics competition. The year before, they celebrated a win at the inaugural qualifier with a dunking of their coach, Ron Wright.
She was heard to say yes, and in March, the Mecha Mules took first place at the qualifier.
Last Thursday following an informal town hall in Cathlamet, Perez and her team made their way up to the Cathlamet swimming pool, named for a predecessor, Julia Butler Hansen. While catching up with the robotics team, dressed for success in a two piece suit, Perez gamely dove into the deep end, then paused with the team for a few more pictures.
Perez spoke about the Mecha Mules during an address to the House of Representatives in Washington D.C. prior to the competition in March and their mention will forever remain in the Congressional Record.
Diana Zimmerman:
“Madam Speaker, I rise today to give a huge shout-out to the Wahkiakum High School Mecha Mules robotics team,” Perez said. “Somebody needs to make a movie about these guys. They are phenomenal.”
“Wahkiakum High School actually did not have hot running water in many of their bathrooms. It is a rural and in many ways, a very underresourced school,” she continued. “These kids ranging in age from eighth grade all the way to seniors placed second at the International SeaPerch underwater competition.”
“These kids really know their stuff,” she said. “I am behind them 100 percent, so much so that I actually offered or agreed to jump in the pool if they are successful in their next competition. We are proud of you. You have made your community very proud and I am very excited to see what you all continue to do.”
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