HONOLULU, Hawaii USA — The St. Andrew's Priory School Team America Rocket Challenge (TARC) group test launched their team's rocket in preparation for a prestigious national competition today. The team will head to the national TARC contest in Plains, VA from May 14-15 — the first time Hawaii will be represented in the largest model rocket contest in the world.

The 2008 Priory TARC team is led by Toka Beech and includes teammates Leah Creamer, Kamilla Pollock, Tracey Ige, Dana Arbaugh, Danica Swenson, Gia Coluccio and Chang Qi.

The team's qualifying launch was made on March 15th at Windward Community College and reached an altitude of 748 feet with an average total flight time of 42.3 seconds.

The TARC contest was established in 2003 to celebrate the Year of Flight but more importantly, it was started to generate interest in aerospace careers for a younger generation as there is a projected shortage of these qualified individuals and the next decade is crucial in determining America's place in aerospace development.

The rocket challenge is sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association, NASA, the National Rocketry Association, the American Association of Physics Teachers and thirty-four other aerospace companies. The goal of the competition is to generate interest and recruit a younger generation of students into the aerospace field, as there is a shortage of qualified young aerospace engineers.

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