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OUR ROCKET TEAM TOOK 2ND IN THE NATION!!!! Flying high now!

FaithManor

By FaithManor,
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FaithManor

FaithManor

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The Deford Dazzlers 4H Rocket Team from Tuscola County, MI, our rocket team made up of seasoned members of our 4H Science club earned 2nd place in the Nation to day. The competition began this winter with 775 teams, the top 100 were invited to the Finals, and after thr first flight round we were in 9th. The top 24 get a second flight to compete for scholarships, and those were barely completed for a thunderstorm hit the field.

 

SECOND PLACE! They earned $15,000 in scholarships, $1000 additional for our 4H club, a gorgoeus trophy, and a flag that made it to space Dec. 5, 2014 on an Orion test flight. It was beautifully framed with a letter from NASA and Lockheed Martin.

 

We are so proud, so incredibly wowed by these kids. The hugs dh and I received from them in thank you for the years we have spent mentoring them were super special.

 

I just had to brag! :D

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Seasider

Seasider

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Smashing!!!

 

What a wonderful bunch of prizes! I hope some of these winning team members are kids that have been with you for a while and are seeing fruit from their efforts. We are all proud of you and your dh, Faith; a team doesn't get that far without excellent coaches. Well done.

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FaithManor

FaithManor

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Thanks everyone. These are the last three of our original eight. One by one we have graduated them. Their first year as a bunch of 7th and 8th graders they finished just outside the score window to be invited to Finals. They were young, inexperienced, and at times quite zany. We finished the year thinking, "We have successfully herded monkeys!"

 

The next year they settled in a bit better, built on the previous year's experience, and made it to the Finals. It was a SUPER wonderful year for weather conditions which was good because they had done most of their launching in mild weather so did not have a bank of data on higher wind speeds and such, got lucky in that respect but they also showed a lot of skill too. They finished 10th which was amazing. They shared $2500 in scholarship money, earned a beautiful trophy, and received a Congressional honor from our Michigan senator, Debbie Stabenow. We received $1000 for our program which dh used to take training at NASA in Huntsville which helped him enhance our engineering, astrophysics, and astronomy pursuits with our club.

 

The next year they finished fourth in the engineering presentation program and 14th - the point spread between 9th and 14th was really tight. Late afternoon rain complicated everything.

 

The next year they won the engineering presentation competition which is a huge test of knowledge and skill. We are extra proud of that accomplishment because no luck is involved. However they drew a late flight window and wind speeds were pushing 20 mph sustained. They finished 40th. No one from the last flight windows were in the top 25.

 

It was the same the next year with the field sitting in their vehicles waiting for lightening to pass. It was a horrible year with a crazy number of teams ending up with broken rockets. The team took everything in stride, great attitudes. That year they worked the Lockheed Martin tent, presented on behalf of 4H, and were recognized for volunteerism. They finished 43rd.

 

And then this year!

 

In this time they have become quite amazing model rocket engineers, they have been recognized by Debbie Stabenow, former senator Carl Levin, our county commissioners, and Michigan State University. They have spoken on STEM topics at MSU and at General Motors, and have reached 200+ youth directly assisting them with model rocketry and physics projects.

 

They have toured the Smithsonian museums, the National Monuments, the Library of Congress, the Capitol Building, Arlington National Cemetary, Manassas Battlefield, and Gettysburg.

 

They have been interviewed by senators, state reps, newspapers, NASA, and Raytheon officials, joined the National Association of Rocketry, built and flown high powered rockets, and have been offered college internships.

 

And sniff, sniff one by one they have graduated. Next year we only have one left and he would like us to switch gears and mentor a First Tech Challenge Robotics team. This year may be our last in TARC but we earned our title of Legacy Team - an organization that has sent a team to the National Finals 5 consecutive times - and sure went out with a bang!

 

For me, it has been the most amazing teaching experience of my life. Treasured forever.

Edited by FaithManor
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The Deford Dazzlers 4H Rocket Team from Tuscola County, MI, our rocket team made up of seasoned members of our 4H Science club earned 2nd place in the Nation to day. The competition began this winter with 775 teams, the top 100 were invited to the Finals, and after thr first flight round we were in 9th. The top 24 get a second flight to compete for scholarships, and those were barely completed for a thunderstorm hit the field.

 

SECOND PLACE! They earned $15,000 in scholarships, $1000 additional for our 4H club, a gorgoeus trophy, and a flag that made it to space Dec. 5, 2014 on an Orion test flight. It was beautifully framed with a letter from NASA and Lockheed Martin.

 

We are so proud, so incredibly wowed by these kids. The hugs dh and I received from them in thank you for the years we have spent mentoring them were super special.

 

I just had to brag! :D

How amazing!!! Congratulations!

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Alessandra

Alessandra

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Thanks everyone. These are the last three of our original eight. One by one we have graduated them. Their first year as a bunch of 7th and 8th graders they finished just outside the score window to be invited to Finals. They were young, inexperienced, and at times quite zany. We finished the year thinking, "We have successfully herded monkeys!"

 

The next year they settled in a bit better, built on the previous year's experience, and made it to the Finals. It was a SUPER wonderful year for weather conditions which was good because they had done most of their launching in mild weather so did not have a bank of data on higher wind speeds and such, got lucky in that respect but they also showed a lot of skill too. They finished 10th which was amazing. They shared $2500 in scholarship money, earned a beautiful trophy, and received a Congressional honor from our Michigan senator, Debbie Stabenow. We received $1000 for our program which dh used to take training at NASA in Huntsville which helped him enhance our engineering, astrophysics, and astronomy pursuits with our club.

 

The next year they finished fourth in the engineering presentation program and 14th - the point spread between 9th and 14th was really tight. Late afternoon rain complicated everything.

 

The next year they won the engineering presentation competition which is a huge test of knowledge and skill. We are extra proud of that accomplishment because no luck is involved. However they drew a late flight window and wind speeds were pushing 20 mph sustained. They finished 40th. No one from the last flight windows were in the top 25.

 

It was the same the next year with the field sitting in their vehicles waiting for lightening to pass. It was a horrible year with a crazy number of teams ending up with broken rockets. The team took everything in stride, great attitudes. That year they worked the Lockheed Martin tent, presented on behalf of 4H, and were recognized for volunteerism. They finished 43rd.

 

And then this year!

 

In this time they have become quite amazing model rocket engineers, they have been recognized by Debbie Stabenow, former senator Carl Levin, our county commissioners, and Michigan State University. They have spoken on STEM topics at MSU and at General Motors, and have reached 200+ youth directly assisting them with model rocketry and physics projects.

 

They have toured the Smithsonian museums, the National Monuments, the Library of Congress, the Capitol Building, Arlington National Cemetary, Manassas Battlefield, and Gettysburg.

 

They have been interviewed by senators, state reps, newspapers, NASA, and Raytheon officials, joined the National Association of Rocketry, built and flown high powered rockets, and have been offered college internships.

 

And sniff, sniff one by one they have graduated. Next year we only have one left and he would like us to switch gears and mentor a First Tech Challenge Robotics team. This year may be our last in TARC but we earned our title of Legacy Team - an organization that has sent a team to the National Finals 5 consecutive times - and sure went out with a bang!

 

For me, it has been the most amazing teaching experience of my life. Treasured forever.

Thank you for posting all these details! I had very little idea of the level of work involved. I am beyond impressed. Many, many congratulations to you, your family and the team for such a well-deserved recognition.

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creekland

creekland

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Thanks everyone. These are the last three of our original eight. One by one we have graduated them. Their first year as a bunch of 7th and 8th graders they finished just outside the score window to be invited to Finals. They were young, inexperienced, and at times quite zany. We finished the year thinking, "We have successfully herded monkeys!"

 

The next year they settled in a bit better, built on the previous year's experience, and made it to the Finals. It was a SUPER wonderful year for weather conditions which was good because they had done most of their launching in mild weather so did not have a bank of data on higher wind speeds and such, got lucky in that respect but they also showed a lot of skill too. They finished 10th which was amazing. They shared $2500 in scholarship money, earned a beautiful trophy, and received a Congressional honor from our Michigan senator, Debbie Stabenow. We received $1000 for our program which dh used to take training at NASA in Huntsville which helped him enhance our engineering, astrophysics, and astronomy pursuits with our club.

 

The next year they finished fourth in the engineering presentation program and 14th - the point spread between 9th and 14th was really tight. Late afternoon rain complicated everything.

 

The next year they won the engineering presentation competition which is a huge test of knowledge and skill. We are extra proud of that accomplishment because no luck is involved. However they drew a late flight window and wind speeds were pushing 20 mph sustained. They finished 40th. No one from the last flight windows were in the top 25.

 

It was the same the next year with the field sitting in their vehicles waiting for lightening to pass. It was a horrible year with a crazy number of teams ending up with broken rockets. The team took everything in stride, great attitudes. That year they worked the Lockheed Martin tent, presented on behalf of 4H, and were recognized for volunteerism. They finished 43rd.

 

And then this year!

 

In this time they have become quite amazing model rocket engineers, they have been recognized by Debbie Stabenow, former senator Carl Levin, our county commissioners, and Michigan State University. They have spoken on STEM topics at MSU and at General Motors, and have reached 200+ youth directly assisting them with model rocketry and physics projects.

 

They have toured the Smithsonian museums, the National Monuments, the Library of Congress, the Capitol Building, Arlington National Cemetary, Manassas Battlefield, and Gettysburg.

 

They have been interviewed by senators, state reps, newspapers, NASA, and Raytheon officials, joined the National Association of Rocketry, built and flown high powered rockets, and have been offered college internships.

 

And sniff, sniff one by one they have graduated. Next year we only have one left and he would like us to switch gears and mentor a First Tech Challenge Robotics team. This year may be our last in TARC but we earned our title of Legacy Team - an organization that has sent a team to the National Finals 5 consecutive times - and sure went out with a bang!

 

For me, it has been the most amazing teaching experience of my life. Treasured forever.

 

I love the long version coupled with the OP.

 

:party: and  :cheers2:

 

Way to have made a difference in our world!   :thumbup:

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