JUNE 5, 2020 - As one of the most bizarre and challenging academic year winds to a conclusion, it provides an opportunity to reflect on the impressive efforts that college students have put forth on their studies in the pursuit of their degree.

While managing class work is difficult enough it can often be made more challenging for those students who are involved in time consuming extracurricular activities.  The ACHA knows full well how challenging this can be but it is also aware of the countless success stories amongst their players. 

One such story involves two players from Xavier University, an ACHA D2 team that competes in the Tri State Collegiate Hockey League.  Michael Arens, a junior defensemen has been working hard on a project that has garnered national attention that culminated in earning an opportunity to give a prestigious Ted Talk presentation during Xavier’s annual Tedx event.

Arens, along with fellow Xavier student David Constantine, are endeavoring to rid the world of water pollutants, plastic in the oceans to be specific.  Arens developed the vision dating back to his high school days in St. Louis.  He, along with his father Mark, started building what would become known as the O.R.C.A or Ocean Rover Cleaning Apparatus.  Fast forward to college where Arens and Constantine now have a working prototype, their own company, Clean Earth Rovers LLC, investors and the tireless support of their families as well as professors from Xavier.

To be clear, this is not the typical college project students work on as part of their curriculum.  The long term thinking is for this to become a viable business that can support the owners after graduation while making a profound impact on cleaning the oceans.  In the meantime, the personal and academic growth these students are gaining has them well prepared for whatever comes next. 

To learn more about Clean Earth Rovers visit www.cleanearthrovers.com or CLICK HERE to watch the Ted Talk