[Source: Meghan E. Moravcik, Arizona Republic] — A team of sixth-graders from Joy Christian School in Glendale beat out about 140 other teams Friday statewide to take the top prize in the Honeywell Fiesta Bowl Aerospace Challenge. The annual competition requires teams of fifth- through eighth-grade students to design and build model international space stations meant to sustain 100 people for two years and present their projects to Honeywell engineers. The challenge promotes knowledge of space and science technology.
Seven Valley teams advanced to the finals, which were held at the Challenger Space Center in Peoria. The competition also is sponsored by The Arizona Republic and Microsoft. “They’re all very good teams,” said Joe Martin, a Joy Christian School teacher, before his team was announced the winner.
This was Martin’s third year bringing teams to the competition. He brought eight teams to the semifinals, and two of those went on to the finals. Team Taurus brought home the win. “It’s been a great experience,” said Courtney Clark, a Team Taurus member. “We felt the need to learn more about space, and we found it quite interesting the way people live in space.” [Note: To read the full article, click here.]