West Virginia student chosen for out of world experience by Blue Origin; Only one of eight winners in the United States

A West Virginia student was chosen for an “out-of-this-world” experience, courtesy of Blue Origin and SpaceKids Global .

SpaceKids Global , a Florida-based national nonprofit organization dedicated to educating elementary students in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics), and Blue Origin’s nonprofit Club for the Future announced the winners of the 2024 SpaceKids Press Squad Competition .

The competition gives eight lucky students from across the U.S. the opportunity to travel to Orlando, FL, visit Blue Origin’s Rocket Park manufacturing facility, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, receive press training from a professional journalist, and possibly witness a Blue Origin New Shepard rocket launch.

Selected from over 1,100 entries across all 50 states, the eight lucky winners include:

• Zone 1: Noelle, age 11, Bellevue, Washington.
• Zone 2: Tobias, age 10, Ronan, Montana
• Zone 3: Nevaya, age 9, Bismarck, North Dakota
• Zone 4: Anahita, age 11, West Lafayette, Indiana
• Zone 5: Alethea, age 12, Burton, West Virginia
• Boys and Girls Clubs: Zoey, age 11, Orlando, Florida
• First Responder: Vivian, age 11, Ft. Collins, Colorado
• U.S. Military: Malaki, age 8, Mexico, New York

“We are thrilled by the excitement surrounding this contest reaching kids in all 50 states. We are so impressed with these students and their enthusiasm for exploring careers in space which is central to the SpaceKids mission,” stated Sharon Hagle, Founder of SpaceKids Global. “I can’t wait to hear about their experiences while playing a role in the space industry.”

The SpaceKids Press Squad will meet with Club for the Future Ambassadors from Blue Origin, including engineers, spacecraft designers, and managers, to interview and learn about their careers and experiences. The Press Squad may also watch the official live webcast of a Blue Origin New Shepard rocket launch taking place at Launch Site One in West Texas from the Blue Origin Mission Control center in Florida.

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