SPRINGFIELD, Ohio USA — Three Springfield Local Schools District students will reach for the stars as they participate in the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) National Rocket Competition scheduled for May 17 at Great Meadow in The Plains, Va.

Amy Hoelzle, Joseph Honeck and Emma Tidwell, all juniors and members of the Springfield High School Rocket Team, were one of three area school teams to qualify for the national competition by launching a home-built rocket containing two raw Grade-A large eggs. They needed to reach around an altitude of 750 feet and a total flight time of 45 seconds to qualify for the national competition.

From left are Springfield High School Rocket Team participants Amy Hoelzle, Joseph Honeck and Emma Tidwell. Photo: Toni Miller.

Two St. Vincent-St. Mary High School teams also qualified for the national competition, which is open to students in grades seven to 12.

Rocket Team mentor and qualified observer Mark Hanna, vice president of technical support at FirstMerit Bank, watched the qualifying launch. Using a two-pound F-52 motor with a five-second delay, the Springfield team’s rocket soared to a height of 749 feet and stayed aloft for 46 seconds, according to Hanna. That accomplishment was no small step for students. Their very first attempt to qualify for the national competition earned them one of 100 spots in the contest that drew 643 middle and high school teams from across the country.

Springfield team members said they got a real boost to their efforts from Hanna, a certified rocketeer and National Association of Rocketry member. Hanna, of Green, said he has about 35 years of experience in rocketry and has served as a rocket club mentor for various schools for five years.

“I got them [Springfield] off the ground with some basic ideas,” Hanna said. “It all fell into place for them on a no-wind day. They got one of the best qualifying times.”

Toni Miller, Springfield Rocket Team staff adviser and Springfield High School physics teacher, told team members the news that the first stage of their mission had been accomplished.

“The kids were ecstatic,” she said. “The girls were jumping up and down and shrieking and Joe sat there smiling quietly.”

The national competition offers plenty to get excited about. The 100 qualifying teams compete for a share of $60,000 in scholarship prizes. The top 18 scoring teams, based on the results of their first flight, will be invited to make a second launch, and the cash prizes will be awarded to the top 10 of these 18 teams, based on the sum of the scores from their two flights.

“These kids really wanted to do well, and they have the ability to make it happen,” Miller said.

The students said they have enjoyed the learning experience, no matter what the outcome of the competition is.

“I have been launching rockets in my backyard since I was 8 years old,” said Honeck, who is considering a career in aerospace engineering. “Designing and building rockets has been a lot of fun.”

Hoelzle, who plans to study music in college, said she has enjoyed watching Hanna’s 50-pound rockets blast off.

“I learned how to build a rocket but also to be patient and persistent,” she said.

Tidwell could not be reached for comment by presstime.

Hanna offered one last piece of advice to the students heading to the national competition.

“Go slow, think every step through and don’t get caught up with ‘go-fever,’” he said.

The team is requesting donations to defray the costs of participating in the national competition. To donate, call the high school at (330) 798-1002.

TARC is sponsored by groups such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U.S. Department of Defense, the American Association of Physics Teachers, Boeing, Lockheed Martin Corp., Raytheon Co., Timken Aerospace Transmissions and United Technologies Corp.

Copyright © 2008, South Side News Leader.