JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic was the site of a March 28 Tri-County DimensionU competition which pitted more than 90 students from eight local middle schools in a competition testing their math and science skills in online, multi-player educational video games.

Students from Alston Middle, Cane Bay Middle, DuBose Middle, Gregg Middle, Hanahan Middle, Oakbrook Middle, River Oaks Middle and Rollings Middle School of the Arts took part in the competition, all under the watchful eyes of SSC Atlantic volunteers and mentors. After more than two hours of competition, the DimensionU Tri-County winners were 1st Place: Warner Westberry, Jason Yeung and Jessica Turnbaugh from the Hanahan Middle School seventh Grade team; 2nd Place: Evan Arnold and David Cheslek of the Dubose Middle School seventh grade team; and 3rd Place: Tanner Dollan, Thomas Ramsey and Breanna Deese of the Cane Bay Middle eight grade team.

Winners from each grade in the competition earned a "Golden Ticket" and will return April 7 to compete against Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy teams in the 2014 Department of Defense Math Games Virtual Tournament. They were the Hanahan Middle School sixth grade team of Dennis Rawlings, Jackson Peavy and Jared Markin; the Hanahan Middle School seventh grade team of Warner Westberry, Jason Yeung and Jessica Turnbaugh; and the Cane Bay Middle eight grade team of Tanner Dollan, Thomas Ramsey and Breanna Deese.

DimensionU, funded by the National Defense Education Program, is a math gaming tool that enhances students' skills in pre-algebra and algebra. The students engage in a series of first-person action adventure missions with three-dimensional graphics, sounds and animation similar to those in popular video games. Students can customize their avatars and can go online to play individually or in teams, with classmates or with other students around the world.

This is the third year SSC Atlantic has hosted the competition, held in the command's conference center on Joint Base Charleston - Weapons Station.

"It's always exciting to bring students here and see their enthusiasm and motivation towards math and technology," said Capt. Amy Burin, SSC Atlantic commanding officer.

DimensionU is part of SSC Atlantic's educational outreach program aimed at developing science, technology, engineering and math talent in K-12 schools and at universities. SSC Atlantic deploys volunteers from its technical workforce to serve as role models, mentors, content experts, competition judges and in other roles that show students the value of a STEM career. Their mission is to inspire, develop and attract the STEM talent that is essential to deliver innovative solutions for the nations' and SSC Atlantic's current and future challenges.