Debra Bures

Following is a press release from a local mom whose sons were part of a team that won a NASA competition. It is so cool!!!
Debra


LOCAL  STUDENTS WIN IN NASA NATIONAL COMPETITION

Local Homeschool Team Wins First Place in Design A Mission To Mars (Grades
  - 8) Competition

North Ridgeville, Berea, Elyria, Ohio, March 26, 2001 - Justin Fuelling (N.
Ridgeville), Joel Fuelling (N. Ridgeville), Garret Shidaker (Elyria), And
Robert Laeng (Berea) of the Fuelling Homeschool Team have been awarded First
Place in the NASA Student Involvement Program's (NSIP's)
2000-2001competition.  These local homeschool students are being honored for
the work on designing a manned mission to Mars that would answer the
question; Is there, or was there ever, water on Mars?  The students did
extensive research using all forms of media to design a way to get to Mars
and perform
research on the surface of the planet.  The students spent 45 hours together
learning about Mars, researching current and necessary technology, and
developing a step by step research mission that would drill into the
surface, collect soil samples, and analyze the gathered data to prove the
current and
or past existence of water on Mars.  Answering such a question would open
the door for future manned research missions, terra-forming, and ultimately
colonizing Mars!

NSIP is a national program that stimulates math, science, technology, and
geography excellence through 5 competition categories designed for students
in grades 3 - 12.  The Competitions are Design an Mission To Mars, My Planet
Earth, Watching Earth Change, Aeronautics and Space Science Journalism, and
Flight Opportunities.

Over 4200 students submitted more than 1000 entries to the competition.
Students engage in research that promotes critical-thinking,
problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills. Student entries
are judged at NASA Centers by teams of scientists, engineers, educators,
journalists, and other professionals, who select first, second,   and
third-place winners.  The Fuelling Homeschool Team was judged and
selected at NASA Glenn Research Center.  There award is a presentation by
NASA including the presentation of first place plaques.  All 6 national
first place winners will go up against each other for a trip to Space Camp!

NASA Headquarters will officially announce the names of all NSIP winners in
Mid-April and post the names on the NSIP website
(http://education.nasa.gov).

"NSIP is an important part of NASA's efforts to enhance K-12 learning
because it offers students the thrill of discovery and achievement,"  says
Lynn Marra, NSIP Program Officer at NASA Headquarters.  "We are proud to
honor their success and have them on the NASA team."