FALLS CHURCH, Virginia USA — Six students from St. James' Catholic School in Falls Church have qualified to compete in the finals of the prestigious "Team America Rocketry Challenge," the world’s largest model rocketry contest.

The contest requires that students design, build and test a model rocket that can fly as close to 45 seconds as possible to a maximum of 850 feet with a payload of one raw egg, and successfully parachute the unbroken egg back to earth. The top 10 teams will share over $60,000 in savings bonds and cash.

The rocketeers are team members Charlie Fidler, Victor Bieniek, Magdalina Moses, Dale Mullane, Patrick Onesty and Thomas Vaughn with team advisors Dr. Katrina Waljeski-Moses and Dr. Dan Moses and team supervisor Marianne Barrick, a St. James science teacher.

"The most remarkable thing about this," says Barrick, "is that this is the youngest team to ever compete for the school, and the most successful."

The team is looking for sponsors to defray the cost of launch materials. Those interested in contributing may contact Marianne Barrick at 703-533-1182 ext. 124.

Copyright  2007, Falls Church News-Press.