High school students shared their vision of the future of air transportation with NASA researchers working on cutting edge aviation technology.

For four years, NASA has sponsored an aeronautics competition for high school students to encourage them to study science, engineering, mathematics and technology. This year, students were asked to research and submit presentations on transportation and mobility, past, present or future.

The Fundamental Aeronautics Program of NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate received 40 entries from 77 students representing high schools, science clubs and home schools in nine states and two foreign countries.

First place honors went to:

  • Justin Smith, Elicia Tate, and Shawn Trent (team), Holton Governor’s School, Abdingon, Va.
  • Matt Kruse, Jacob Monat (team), Kee High School, Lansing, Iowa
  • Toni Monat, Kee High School, Lansing, Iowa
  • Mark Galligan, Lake Braddock Secondary School, Burke, Va.
  • Matt Sullivan, Lake Braddock Secondary School, Burke, Va.
  • Stephan Sutton, Lake Braddock Secondary School, Burke, Va.
  • Matthew Payne, Tucker Ward (team), Lourdes High School, Rochester, Minn.
  • Barbara Herndon, Mount St. Joseph Academy, Brighton, Mass.

Each of the winning schools received a $400 financial award made through a cooperative agreement with Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va.

All participants received a certificate from NASA, a letter encouraging them to continue their studies in science, engineering, mathematics and technology, and a copy of a recently NASA-published book, “Innovation in Flight.”

NASA researchers judged the student papers on research content, creativity, writing and organization. Winners were selected based on the quality of their papers as compared to others submitted in this and previous years.

For information about the NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, visit:

http://aerospace.nasa.gov