 2465 Gillespie Street
Fayetteville, NC 28306
Contact:
Lindsay Whitley
Associate Superintendent, Communications and Community Engagement
Phone: 910-678-2303
Email: lindsaywhitley@ccs.k12.nc.us
For Immediate Release:
March 27, 2025
STEM Dreams Soar: 2025 STARward STEM Design Challenge Winners Announced!
Fayetteville, NC – During tonight's fourth annual STARward STEM Expo on the campus of Douglas Byrd High School, 16 student teams from seven elementary, middle and high schools competed for the opportunity to have their design-challenge experiment travel from the Kennedy Space Center to the International Space Station (ISS).
Cumberland County Schools (CCS) is proud to announce the following winners of this year's STARward STEM Design Challenge:
"Judges Choice" Winner - “The Dynamic Duo," Mary McArthur Elementary
Nehemiah Ben-Israel
Charlotte Perkins
Zuri Gaddy
Zehri Williams
Marcelline Green
Kalani Wilson
Teacher: Monet Johnson
Elementary Winner - “Cosmic Calm,” Mary McArthur Elementary
IIsabella Brewer
Blaine Gratia
Sophia Chavis
Jesslyn Rojas Granadales
Scarlett Doby
Kiara Salmeron
Aniyah Foster
Aziah Sinclair
Teacher: Kassandra Phillips
Secondary Winner - “Oxidation: Above & Beyond,” Douglas Byrd High
Allan Alvarez Gaitan
Nikolas Blanco
Tristian Moeschet
Akai Reed
Teacher: Undine Roemmer
The student teams have spent months collaborating on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research, investigating challenges faced by astronauts in space exploration and identifying problems of interest and designing experiments that could help improve life in space. In addition to the student experiment exhibition and competition, Expo attendees had the chance to interact with cutting-edge technology, STEM industry experts and former Astronaut Tony Antonelli, a Douglas Byrd High School graduate who served in the U.S. Navy before becoming a pilot on the STS-119 and STS-132 missions to the ISS.
Scheduled exhibitors included STARward STEM project partners to include the following: RTI International, DreamUp, Emerging Technology Institute, UNC-Pembroke Rocketry Team, Department of Defense DoD STEM, NASA North Carolina Space Grant and Cumberland County Schools.
Over the past three years, more than 170 teams and 1,000 students have competed in the STARward STEM Design Challenge, inspiring the next generation of space explorers and innovators.
The program was developed by RTI International in collaboration with CCS, funded by the district and generously supported by community partners. If you would like to learn more about how you can support this inspiring program, please email partnerships@ccs.k12.nc.us.
About STARward STEM
STARward STEM is a dynamic initiative that encourages students to engage in hands-on STEM learning, equipping them with the skills and curiosity needed to solve real-world problems. By designing experiments destined for the ISS, students gain valuable experience in critical thinking, teamwork and scientific discovery.
For more information, visit CCS STARward STEM Program.
“The “Judges Choice" Expo Winners, "The Dynamic Duo'" Team from Mary McArthur Elementary School, pose for a photo with former Astronaut Tony Antonelli.”
“Antonelli poses with the Elementary Expo Winners, the "Cosmic Calm" Team from Mary McArthur Elementary School.”
“The Secondary Expo Winners, the “Oxidation: Above & Beyond” Team from Douglas Byrd High School, proudly take a pic with Antonelli.”
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