Reach for the Stars ~ Rocket Competition National Winners Honored by AIAA, NAR and NSS

Nov. 11, 2019 - PRLog -- Contestants in the 13^th annual Reach for the Stars ~ National Rocket Competition (ages 10 to 18) had to build and launch their own solid-fuel powered rocket at a local event . Over 2,000 kids were involved in local competitions across the country in this year long competition.

When results were totaled the 13^th Reach for the Stars ~ National Rocket Competition National Winners (in alphabetical order) were –

«  Adam Chernetsky won at Flagler Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Florida at a STEM Camp led by Lt JG William Sunda.

«  Dale Cournoyer scored his win at Cedar Key School in Crystal River, Florida under the direction of teacher, Tina Hackey.

«  Emmanuel Florentino competed at Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School in Santa Ana, California hosted by teacher, Andrea Earl.

«  Keegan Gater took the honors at Sarasota School of Arts & Sciences in Sarasota, Florida. Teacher Christine Fleming ran the event.

«  Shea Marsh competed at Wilkinson Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida. Teachers Ed Hashey and Mark Harrison were in charge.

«  Abriyel Opoku won at the first RFTS Competition run at the Drake Planetarium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Pam Bowers, Director of the Rockin' Rockets Summer Camp ran the event.

The RFTS national winners celebrated at Space Camp / U.S. Space & Rocket Center https://www.rocketcenter.com/ in Rocket City - Huntsville, Alabama. The winners got to launch rockets from Homer Hickam Launch Pad and were presented a Space Shuttle Challenger commemorative medal with certificate signed by Astronaut Jon McBride.

«  Jack and Kathy Colpas, founders of the Reach for the Stars ~ National Rocket Competition (RFTS) presented certificates to the national winners.

«  G. Alan Lowrey, former regional director for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) - the world's largest aerospace technical society enthusiastically spoke to the winners.

«  Vince Huegele, trustee for the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) - the oldest and largest sport rocketry organization in the world, was there to present the Space Shuttle Challenger commemorative medals.

«  Ronnie Lajoi, Vice-President for membership and Robin Scott, HAL-5, represented the National Space Society - dedicated to the creation of a spacefaring civilization. They presented the winners and their teachers with certificates of achievement and an honorary membership in NSS.


The 14^th annual Reach for the Stars ~ National Rocket Competition  http://www.rocketcompetition.com/ is now underway.