Heuvelton Central School secures invitation to join in NASA’s Student Launch initiative

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY, N.Y. (WWTI) – A team from Heuvelton Central School in St. Lawrence County, NY placed 11th among the 100 teams competing at the National Finals in the American Rocketry Challenge , which had a record-breaking 922 teams and 5,000 students from 45 states enter this year.

Heuvelton Central School ‘s rocketry team placed as a top-25 finisher and secured an invitation to participate in NASA’s Student Launch initiative . This marks the school’s 10th trip to the National Finals and sixth “top 30” performance since science teacher Bob Kennedy took the first team to the finals in 2003. The 2024 Huevelton rocketry team members are Adam West, Cooper White, Bradyn Dawson, Shane Mudge and Willem Gleeson.

The team’s accomplishments follow months of preparation designing, building and testing a rocket capable of meeting mission parameters set by the Aerospace Industries Association , National Association of Rocketry and over 20 industry partners. To qualify for the National Finals, participating teams designed, built and launched model rockets that could safely carry one raw egg with a target flight duration between 43 and 46 seconds and reaching an altitude of 820 feet.

NASA astronaut Warren “Woody” Hoburg , who competed in the National Finals of the inaugural American Rocketry Challenge in 2003, visited with the students during the National Finals. Twenty years after he was a participant, Hoburg blasted off to space as the Pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station.

The American Rocketry Challenge, now in its 22nd year, has inspired almost 95,000 middle and high school students to explore education and careers in STEM fields. You can view the full results HERE .

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