South Brunswick Students Qualify For American Rocketry Challenge Final

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ – Six students from South Brunswick School District have qualified for the Nationals Finals of the 22nd annual American Rocketry Challenge.

The South Brunswick High School Aerospace team is one of 100 teams from across the country to quality and will be competing for the title of National Champion on Saturday.

This is the first time South Brunswick High School has participated in the American Rocketry Challenge and made it to the Nationals.

The team consists of Aarush Modali, team captain; Aman Pullatikurt, Havish Kolavennu; Kevin Varghese, Shyam Srikant all juniors and Zafir Shamsi, a freshman.

The American Rocketry Challenge is the aerospace and defense industry’s flagship program designed to encourage students to study and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). It gives students the opportunity to launch model rockets and and a hands-on experience in solving engineering problems.

The competition challenges middle and high school students to design, build and fly a rocket that meets specific altitude and flight duration parameters.

This year's rules required teams to design, build, and launch model rockets that could safely carry one large raw egg to an altitude of 820 feet, stay airborne between 43 and 46 seconds, and return to the ground safely.

“For over two decades, the American Rocketry Challenge has empowered students in STEM, propelling the next generation of engineers, scientists, and visionaries. The challenge has been a true force in driving talent to the aerospace industry,” said Eric Fanning, Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) President and CEO.

“A record number of teams applied to this year’s competition — remarkable students who will one day shape the trajectory of how we move, connect, and explore and take us higher, faster, and farther than ever before. I congratulate our top 100 finalists and look forward to seeing which team’s creativity and resourcefulness will earn them the title of National Champion.”

The SBHS Aerospace team has worked hard for months perfecting the rocket design, propulsion and fly offs, working on calculations, simulating the flight and perfecting the rocket design.

After working on the challenge, the students say they have a new appreciation for the principles of Physics and the importance of atmospheric factors.

The team will compete for more than $100,000 in cash and prizes, along with the title of National Champion, which includes an all-expense paid trip to London for the International Rocketry Challenge in July.

The top 25 teams will earn spots in NASA’s Student Launch Challenge.

In its 22nd year now, the American Rocketry Challenge has inspired nearly 95,000 middle and high school students to explore education and careers in STEM.

The National Finals will be held on Saturday, at The Plains, Virginia, 45 miles outside Washington, DC.

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