Out of this world: Cumberland County student projects to launch into outer space – The Fayetteville Observer

Three projects created by Cumberland County students will launch into space aboard a future International Space Station flight.

More than 300 students in the districts Science, Technology, Engineering and Math classes submitted 63 projects to be considered. Seventeenof those projects were on display Tuesday night at Douglas Byrd High School.

The projects are part of the STARWard STEM program, a three-year grant-funded initiative geared toward STEM instruction and project-based learning, district officials said.

It was developed by RTI International in partnership with Cumberland County Schools, with funding provided by the Department of Defense. Also collaborating in the program arethe Emerging Technology Institute, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and DreamUp.

We know that hands-on learning prepares for students to be creative, critical thinkers whoembrace known and unknown challenges, said Laurie Baker, director of the Center for Education at RTI International.

Superintendent Marvin Connelly Jr. said the district is preparing its students for the future when they'll serve in jobs that dont exist with technology not yet invented to solve problems that are unknown.

Pursue your passion ... Continue to reach for the stars, Connelly told students.

Cumberland County Schools STARward STEM Expo

Cumberland County students vied to have their science projects aboard a future launch to the International Space Station.

Rachael Riley, The Fayetteville Observer

The first-place winning team in the secondary school category were students from teacher Denise Renfros Douglas Byrd High School class with their project impact of perchlorates on aerospace metal T-73 in microgravity. The students are Connor Berkery, Aiden Berlin, Joshua Goins, Michael Ali-Newton, Maya Sanchez and Jakari West.

Joshua, who is a junior, said that the team is studying the chemical compound known as perchlorate to determine if it is causing corrosion to the T-73 alloy metal that the Mars rover is made out of.

We know there is no water on Mars, so how is the rover being rusted, Joshua said.

He said perchlorates are in Martian soil, and the group is studying whether the compound or something else is causing the corrosion.

This would help people in space for future colonization in Mars because most of the materials being made for Mars exploration and colonization is going to be alloy T-73, which is aluminum metals, he said.

Earning the first-place award in the at-large category were April Baddys and Theresa Pinheiros Mary McArthur Elementary School students with their project turmeric in space. The students areRichard Alvarado-Cotto, Ezekiel Dixon, Chole Martinez, Leana McMillian, Connor McGarry, Genesis Rodriguez, Lilly Rumppe and Landon Ueltzen.

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The students are studying if turmeric will lose its potency in microgravity and if it can maintain its health benefits for several years.

Its good for your brain, heart and blood, fifth-grader Connor said through a sign language interpreter. Connor said hes excited his teams project could help astronauts.

The final team that will have their sage in space project aboard the International Space Stationare students in Andrea Hildel-Reyes' class at Cumberland Road Elementary. The students areRonald Benton, Ryland Davis, Lakota Jacobs and Matthew Mason.

Connelly told students despite whether their experiment was selected to be aboard the International Space Station, they are trailblazers in your own rights.

Runners-up and second-place teams in the challenge were:

Mary MacArthur Elementary fourth grade students in Chantel Henry and NeKeisha Mitchell-Williams class. The students areCali Brown, Zayvion Campbell, Lilianna Hill, Patrick McGarry, Joel Ortiz, Delilah Richardson, Melany Gonzalez Rivera and Anthony Williams.

Our focus was to grow corn in space, fourth-grader Joel said. The one thing we have here is sunlight, but the one thing space doesnt have is sunlight, so we used soil, corn and water to see if corn will grow without sunlight.

Ireland Drive Middle School sixth-graders in Sarah Atkins'class. The students are Kizi Hernandez, SaMiya McLean, Layla Rosario, Maya Thompson and Jordan Wooding.

Douglas Byrd High Schoolninth-graders in Jennifer Ramirezs class. Students areAlyssa Davis, Alexander De La Cruz, Braudy Barcena Gil and Michael Rice.

Also recognized Tuesday night were students in a junior astronautchallenge.

The first-place and second-place teams in that challenge were second-grade students in Barbara Cascasans class at Cumberland Mills Elementary School.

The first place students areRaelynn Harris, DeShawn Hurley, Denisse Phillips, Liliana Rapozo and Aaron Rupert. The second-place students are James Gentry, Jade Grady-Richardson, Josiah Simmons and Cristopher Starbird.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

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Out of this world: Cumberland County student projects to launch into outer space - The Fayetteville Observer