INNOVATOR I

Voyage 1

• About Us

  The name INNOVATOR I honors both the spirit of innovation that defines our academy and the significance of this being our first vessel launch. At MEESA, students are known as Innovators—young visionaries who explore, design, and solve problems through hands-on STEM experiences tied to the maritime and environmental sectors. The roman numeral 1 represents the beginning of a fleet, the courage to take the first step, and the belief that one idea—or one student—can start a wave of change.

  The crew of INNOVATOR I is composed of 11th-grade Innovators from the Maritime Engineering and Environmental Studies Academy (MEESA) — a Virginia College Partnership Lab School located in Newport News, Virginia. MEESA is hosted by Newport News Public Schools in collaboration with Old Dominion University’s Center for Educational Innovation and Opportunity (CEIO). Together, students, educators, university researchers, and maritime mentors form a learning partnership focused on connecting classroom knowledge to real-world maritime and environmental applications.
  
  This project is being made possible through a partnership between Newport News Public Schools, Old Dominion University, and Educational Passages. We also wish to thank our community and industry partners whose expertise and collaboration bring INNOVATOR I to life. QED is helping us highlight maritime trades in action and connect them to real-world career pathways. The Mariners’ Museum and Park is co-designing an interactive exhibit that allows the community to track the mini boat’s voyage and follow the story of each cohort’s build—creating a living legacy as every new group of Innovators launches its own vessel.
  Youth Sail Virginia is teaching our students the art and joy of sailing, building confidence and respect for maneuvering a vessel through the water. J&F Alliance Group supports the integration of IoT systems, AI-driven data visualization, and immersive dashboards that enable students to analyze live data from the Atlantic. The U.S. Coast Guard is assisting with safe launch operations off the Virginia coast. And Dominion Energy, whose offshore wind turbine site inspired our innovators’ exploration of renewable energy, continues to help us link wind energy, maritime engineering, and sustainability. Our partners are shaping innovators to navigate Virginia’s maritime future, connect with our heritage, and create a legacy that endures.

• Mariners' Museum Field Trip

  On December 11th, 2025 M.E.E.S.A students went off campus to visit the Mariners’ Museum for the day. Students had an engaging, hands-on experience working with both the Lake Stewards and Archivist teams. Behind the scenes at the museum, the Archivist team provided a special tour and shared valuable guidance to support the students’ community collection for their miniboat project.
  
  With the Lake Stewards, they connected to onboard human sensors, collected water quality data, discussed field research and cold-water safety, and created macroinvertebrate leaf packs to be studied next month.
  
  During their exploration of the museum, the Innovator I crew was also able to test their GPS and MakerBuoy sensor pack unit on the dock by the lake. Systems are looking great and ready for next steps,…installation into their vessel!
  
  Stay tuned for more updates of our boat’s progress!