Two student teams from Ocala have earned a spot in the upcoming American Rocketry Challenge National Finals.

The rocket contest gives middle and high school students across the country the opportunity to design, build, and launch model rockets while learning how to solve engineering problems.

This year’s contest featured over 720 teams comprising 4,000 students across 41 states. The participating students were tasked to build and launch a model rocket that could safely carry two raw eggs to a target altitude of 835 feet, with a target flight duration of 41 to 44 seconds.

There were 101 teams of students from 27 states that qualified for the 2022 National Finals, which is taking place on Saturday, May 14 in The Plains, Virginia. Two of those teams are from The Cornerstone School in Ocala.

Ocala students among national finalists in American Rocketry Challenge 1
Mr. Zaloom (left) poses with the students from The Cornerstone School who will be competing in the National Finals on May 14 (Photo courtesy of The Cornerstone School)

The finalists will compete for the title of national champion, an all-expense paid trip to London for the international finals, and $100,000 in prizes. Teams that finish in the top 25 will also receive invitations to NASA’s Student Launch workshop.

The contest is now in its 20th year, and the competition has helped inspire more than 85,000 middle and high school students to explore education and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (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.

Fanning added, “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.”

For more information, visit the American Rocketry Challenge webpage.