Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts Prove They Have the Right Stuff in National Rocket Competition

Sept. 5, 2011 - PRLog -- Seemingly in response to the nations call for more interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) activities – kids across the nation have competed in the fifth annual Reach for the Stars ~ National Rocket Competition.  At the end of the Competition those who had the “Right Stuff”* were victorious.

Contestants had to build and launch a solid-fuel powered rocket at an event held in their area by schools, scouts, youth groups and Challenger Learning Centers. The closest average landing by parachute to a target after two launches wins. Local winner’s results are entered into the national Competition. The annual Competition runs continuously and is open to ages ten to adult. Go to www.TheRocketman.net for details.

Of the six national winners – Three Girl Scouts; Nicole Frese, Mari Hernandez and Jo’nae McCullough and one Boy Scout, Collin Warner took top honors. Also scoring top honors were students; Marc Kolling and Mackie Tygart who competed with their classes at school. In a Competition that fosters the memory of the First Teacher in Space, Christa McAuliffe, it is fitting that Girl Scouts would win. Christa is considered to be a life long Girl Scout. All national winners will get a framed Space Shuttle Challenger Commemorative Coin signed by Christa’s mother Grace Corrigan.

Jo’nae McCullough competed with the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia at a STEM Summer Camp under Program Director, Cheryl Hecker. They were assisted by Tripoli Rocket Club members, Burl & Joanna Finkelstein. Nicole Frese won the honors with the Girl Scouts of Connecticut under Program Initiatives Coordinator, Ellyn Savard.  Mari Hernandez launched with Membership Development Specialist, Patricia Hemenway of the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida. This is the second national win for Ms Hemenway and her Girl Scouts.



Collin Warner launched with his Boy Scout Troop in North Carolina under Scout Leader, Chad Warner.  Representing the full spectrum of school students were; Marc Kolling from Laurel Elementary School, in Poinciana, Florida under teacher, Michael Bastedo and Assistant Principal, Shannon Young and Mackie Tygart who launched with his class at Berrien High School in Nashville, Georgia under Teacher Mark DiBois.  Mr. DiBois is a National Association of Rocketry senior member and was honored last year for his work in the Helping Kids Reach for the Stars program.

Three of the winners (Marc Kolling, Jo’nae McCullough, Mari Hernandez) qualify to receive trophies and launch their rockets at the Astronaut Hall of Fame at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. They will continue their celebration with their families by visiting the Space Mirror Astronaut Memorial, standing in the world famous Rocket Garden, seeing an IMAX movie, riding the Shuttle Launch Experience and more.

The other national winners of the Reach for the Stars ~ National Rocket Competition (Collin Warner, Mackie Tygart, Nicole Frese) qualify to receive their trophy from famed author Homer Hickam and launch from “Cape Coalwood” with the original “Rocket Boys” while celebrating with their families at the October Sky Festival in West Virginia. Launching their rockets from a historic spot is an important part of the celebration for winners. National Competition director, Jack Colpas says this gives them, “memories to last a lifetime and bragging rights for generations to come.”

DNC Parks & Resorts at KSC, Inc. and the Hampton Inn - Cocoa Beach have joined together to provide unforgettable memories for the winners of the annual Reach for the Stars ~ National Rocket Competition. Tickets to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex plus two nights lodging are being provided for three winners and their families. Without the generosity of these companies, this winners’ celebration would not be possible.

Jack and Kathy Colpas, co-directors of the Helping Kids Reach for the Stars model rocketry program and the Reach for the Stars ~ National Rocket Competition are retired public school educators. The goal of the program is to give kids the unique educational experience of building and launching a solid-fuel powered rocket. The mission is to keep alive the memory of the first Teacher-in-Space, Christa McAuliffe. The program is designated as an Educational Outreach of the Christa McAuliffe Challenger Learning Center. For details go to www.TheRocketman.net  



*The Right Stuff – Thomas Wolfe 1979

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Jack Colpas taught middle school science for over thirty years. For fifteen years he presented rocketry workshops to educators. He worked the summer program at G WIZ - Science Museum in Sarasota, Florida for over a decade. The kids nicknamed him "The Rocketman".
After retiring from teaching he founded the Helping Kids Reach for the Stars program and the national Reach for the Stars Rocket Competition. The program’s goal is to give kids the unique educational experience of building and launching their own solid-fuel powered model rocket. The mission is to keep alive the memory of first Teacher-in-Space, Christa McAullife.