Two Shelby Junior High School teams have launched themselves into a successful future in aerospace engineering after earning the right to take part this weekend in the American Rocketry Challenge.

The students are among 100 teams participating this weekend in the world’s largest student rocketry competition in The Plains, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C.

“I am both happy and relieved to finally qualify for the national competition,” said team advisor, Shelby Junior High School teacher Andy Davis.  “The students worked really hard and didn't give up when their rockets were not cooperating. I give them a lot of credit for finding solutions to the problem and sticking with the math.”

The Shelby teams are comprised of William Hoff, Griffin Chaney, Roshan Soundar, Tyler Ptaszek, Derek Woodruff, Sophia Younan, Alex Vanker, Quinn Campau, Ashton Simoski and Brady Tobitz.

This year, each team was required to design, build, and launch model rockets that safely carries one large hen egg to an altitude of 850 feet, stays airborne for between 42 and 45 seconds, and returns the rocket to the ground safely.

The twist is, the rocket must separate into two parts after apogee—one section of the rocket must contain the egg and altimeter, and the second the rocket motor(s)—and both parts must land with their own parachutes. 

The Shelby teams were among 800 teams that competed for the opportunity to take part in nationals. The teams are vying for $100,000 in prizes and the title of National Champion, which includes an all-expense paid trip to compete in the International Rocketry Challenge at the Paris Air Show in June.

The teams have participated in the American Rocketry Challenge since 2004, and have competed in the National Finals, against the best from across the U.S., for many years since. 

While they hope they win, the students said they are excited to just be part of the competition.

“Going to see Washington DC for the first time and seeing different rocket designs from the other 98 teams we are competing against, said Derek Woodruff.

Sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association, the National Association of Rocketry, and more than 20 industry partners, the American Rocketry Challenge is the aerospace and defense industry’s flagship program designed to encourage students to pursue study and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Now in its 21st year, the competition has inspired nearly 90,000 middle and high school students to explore education and careers in STEM fields.