Eleven of Logan’s smartest students are heading to NASA this July to represent the country in an international space competition.
But not everyone can afford to go, so the school is calling on local business for support.
Windaroo Valley State High School in January teamed up with another public school from Perth to compete in the Australian Space Design Competition.
Students were required to design a space settlement for approximately 9000 people, set 35 years in the future.
Windaroo Valley, the only regular public school in the compeititon, took home first prize.
“We are very excited by Windaroo Valley winning the Australian Space Design Competition and qualifying for the international competition,” school principal Tracey Hopper said.
“We are the first public school to ever win the national championship, which is an awesome accomplishment for state education and testament to the quality academic opportunities for our students.”
The team’s coach, Stephen Thrum, said the competition had been dominated by private schools for the entirety of its 18-year history.
“This was also the first time in competition history a team would comprise solely public-school students,” Mr Thrum said.
Windaroo Valley SHS was represented by 11 students: Ella Meany, Skyler Potter, Xavier Tate, Daniel Bryde, Lucas Meager, Xenia Zrinyi, Madalaine Currey, Ryan Turner and Caden Jameson, Sarah McIntosh, Marie McIntosh.
Together with students from Perth Modern School, the team’s made-up company “Centaurus” was awarded the tenders to design the station.
My Thrum said the students worked “extremely hard and long hours”.
“Initial team briefings, meeting the other school’s members with whom they would be working, industry technical sessions, selection of a CEO for the combined team and assigning work groups formed the first part of the competition,” he said.
“Skyler Potter (Windaroo Valley SHS School Council President 2023) was selected by students from both Windaroo Valley SHS and Perth Modern School as the Centaurus CEO.
“Presentations were held on Sunday evening with the Centaurus team presenting a very professional and sophisticated design to the large audience and industry judging panel.”
Mr Thrum said this year’s competition was one of the closest finishes ever.
“However, after great deliberation and evaluation by aerospace and engineering industry experts in a history-making first for the competition, Windaroo Valley State High School and Perth Modern School.. were named National Champions for 2024,” he said.
The international competition will be held at the end of July 2024 at the Kennedy Space Center.
“With a very short timeline, we are seeking sponsors and donations for our team to be able to compete at the ISSDC in the USA. Thank you to BlueScope Steel, our first sponsor to support us,” Mr Thrum said.
“If you are able to or know of anyone [or] any business that would be able to assist our students reach for the stars, please contact the school.”
