FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 26, 2002
CONTACT: Katherine Telleen/202-225-2165

Peterson Encourages Minnesota
High School Students To Participate In 
“Team America Rocketry Challenge” 

WASHINGTON, D.C.—To celebrate the centennial of powered flight in 2003, Congressman Collin Peterson is encouraging interested high school students in Minnesota’s 7^th Congressional District to take part in the “Team America Rocketry Challenge,” a national contest jointly sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR). 

The contest challenges students from across America to design, build, and fly a multi-stage model rocket weighing less than 3.3 pounds at liftoff as close as possible to 1500 feet.  A fly-off competition for the top 100 teams will be held in Northern Virginia on April 2-5, 2003. 

“This is an excellent opportunity for students with an interest in science and engineering to participate in a hands-on, innovative learning experience,” Peterson said.  “I hope many students will join the contest as a way to explore possible future careers while applying their knowledge from the classroom toward a practical endeavor.”  The five winning teams will share a total prize pool of approximately $50,000 in savings bonds, and their teachers’ departments will share an additional $9,000.  Additional information, as well as an application for the contest, can be found at www.rocketcontest.org or www.aia-aerospace.org.

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