Newark Student Rocketry Team Advances To National Competition

NEWARK, CA — Students in the Newark Memorial High School rocketry team have made it to the National Finals of the American Rocketry Challenge, scheduled for May 14 in The Plains, Virginia, near Washington, DC.

This is Newark’s twentieth year participating in the challenge, making it one of just two groups nationwide with an unbroken participation record since the competition started in 2003. The local team is advised by Matthew Hacker.

A team from Mission San Jose High School in Fremont also made the finals.

The competition started with more than 700 teams nationwide, whittled down to 100 in the finals including 11 teams from California. The teams from Newark and Fremont are the only Bay Area teams to advance.

This year's rules require teams to design, build and launch a model rocket that safely carries two raw eggs to a target altitude of 835 feet, with a target flight duration of 41 to 44 seconds.

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 20th year, the competition has inspired more than 85,000 middle and high school students to explore education and careers in STEM fields.

“The hands-on experience students gain as part of the American Rocketry Challenge creates limitless pathways in STEM and the aerospace industry, opening the door for them to be a part of the world’s most exciting innovations,” said Eric Fanning, President and CEO of Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). “These students will be designing the rockets that will take us to Mars and beyond, and I can’t wait to see which of these incredible rocketeers will be crowned National Champion in May.”

In addition to competing for the title of national champion and an all-expense paid trip to London for the international finals, teams will be competing for $100,000 in prizes. The top 25 teams will automatically receive invitations to NASA’s Student Launch workshop.