Pleasanton Rocket Team Soars to Success

At the beginning of the school year there wasn’t a Rocket Team at Amador Valley High School.

Sophomore Brian Cheng approached teacher Tony Dennis about getting one going. Three other students were enthusiastically on board--Connor Chen, Chris Chi, and Eason Liu--and together they formed a team to compete in the Team America Rocketry Challenge.

In just one school year, these students blasted off--competing last weekend in the national Team America Rocketry Challenge Final Fly-off at Great Meadow in The Plains, Virginia.

The trip included a visit to the US Capital to share with Congress the importance of supporting STEM Education programs, followed by a one-day fly-off to compete for cash prizes and recognition.

Tony Dennis recounts their trip, “AVHS Rocket Team participated in the Rockets on the Hill program at the US Senate building on Friday, May 8th.

“On May 9th, our team along with 100 other teams from around the US participated in the fly-off. The weather was really humid and unseasonably warm which are conditions our kids had not flown in. In addition, their primary rocket had been damaged in shipping and they were forced to fly their secondary rocket. In the face of these challenges our team took their turn on the launchpad and proudly sent their rocket into the air. Unfortunately, a recovery malfunction meant their flight did not qualify to move on to the final round.

“I am really proud of the way our team took this in stride, moved on to other parts of the days activities, and stayed to watch the awards ceremony and dinner and really take in the whole experience. I want to especially thank the parents of these young men for all the support they gave their sons as well as the great job they did of organizing the trip and all the travel details.”

Congratulations to the Rocket Team!

--Image: Shared Publicity via AFOSR, Air Force Office of Scientific Research

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