Page 14 - Aerotech News and Review STEM Special Edition – August 2025

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August 22, 2025
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fully functional Fender Strato- caster-style guitars as a vehicle for teaching engineering concepts. Students design custom guitar bodies using modeling software, create toolpaths for CNC routers, select appropriate materials based on strength and weight specifica- tions, learn finishing and painting techniques, and master soldering for electronics assembly. The proj- ect incorporates Air Force critical technologies related to advanced materials, fabrication, and finish- ing processes like those used in aircraft production.
Pollution Solution at Fulton & Alsbury Academy, led by STEM teacher Aneek daGama, this com- prehensive environmental science project builds on students’ work with NASA PACE-PAX to un- derstand air and sea monitoring. Students build weather stations to track temperature changes, conduct experiments to test air quality, and learn to identify pollutants in water sources. The project includes a simulation of a water crisis where students take on different community roles to investigate contamination sources. Students also build underwater robots to collect samples from simulated polluted water sources.
5th grade Space Technology Exploration at The Palmdale Aerospace Academy, led by teacher Autaumn Deland. The 5th graders received a generous grant from the Air Force Research Laboratory for a special STEM aerospace project. Students visited JPL and spoke with engineers about their careers, then came back and built their own solar powered rovers.
edwArds AFb Flight test historiCAl FoundAtion And Air ForCe reseArCh lAb help sChools with stem grAnts
By Lisa Brown
75 years, learn about Air Force critical technologies used in each project, and apply math and engi- neering skills to build large-scale flying models. Each team research- es different aerospace milestones.
Teacher-level projects
($2,500 - $5,000):
Astronomy Space Camp at Tehachapi High School, led by science teacher Robert Lang, this immersive program takes stu- dents from a rural community on a daylong educational trip to the California Science Center and Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. Students interact with Air Force aerospace engineers, explore a decommissioned space shuttle, shuttle, experience flight simulators, and view the IMAX film “Deep Sky” about the James Webb Space Telescope. The project connects students in a remote area with space technology profession- als and resources unavailable in their community, aligning with NGSS standards while introducing them to potential Space Force and Air Force careers.
Systems Integration — Vac- uum Forming at Lancaster High School, led by engineering teacher Eryk Frias, this manufac- turing project engages students in designing, building, and test- ing a vacuum forming machine through a collaborative systems integration approach. Students work in specialized teams focus- ing on different aspects of the machine—mechanical design, electronics, control systems, and materials—mirroring
Flight Test Historical Museum
Aerospace Valley, Calif., — In partnership with the STEM Edu- cation team at the Air Force Re- search Laboratory (AFRL) Rocket Lab at Edwards Air Force Base, the Flight Test Historical Foundation is proud to announce the success- ful distribution of the ENSPIRE program grants awarded for the 2025 academic year.
The ENSPIRE program ad- dresses a critical national need. According to the National Center for Engineering and the Economy, the United States graduates the lowest percentage of engineering degree holders of any industri- alized nation, far below that of Japan, China, and Canada. Since 2016, the Department of the Air Force has funded local AF entities to help K-12 schools near Air Force and Space Force Bases implement advanced educational practices and technologies in STEM disci- plines with the aim of supporting Air and Space Force critical tech- nologies and workforces.
A key focus of the program is expanding STEM education op- portunities to students across various backgrounds. Applicants must include metrics describing the targeted student population and how this population will be impacted by the proposed project. Additionally, all projects must employ active learning strategies, which educational research has shown to be effective at improving learning outcomes and self-efficacy in STEM disciplines.
The grants provide funding at two levels: School Level Projects ($10,000) and Teacher Level Proj- ects ($5,000). These grants support innovative educational experiences
One of Autaumn Deland students from Palmdale Aerospace Acad- emy displays her finished robot.
Courtesy photos
Palmdale Aerospace Academy students display their robot kits, bought with an ENSPIRE grant. They went to JPL and spoke to engi- neers about their careers.
ranging from one-time programs to weekly engagements and week- long immersive experiences.
“We are grateful to the STEM team at AFRL for their partnership and securing the funding for these grants to benefit our local stu- dents,” said Lisa Sheldon Brown, Executive Director of Education for the Flight Test Historical Foun- dation. “By connecting students to the rich aerospace history and cutting-edge technology developed by the AFRL, we’re helping to build the STEM workforce of tomorrow while addressing critical educa- tional needs today.”
Successful projects
highlight innovation in
STEM education
Th3 2024-2025 school year’s grant cycle awarded over $53,000 in early January to fund innovative STEM education projects across multiple schools. These funded projects demonstrated excellence in the four key areas required by the program:
Introduction to Air and Space Force careers, exploration of Air and Space Force critical technolo- gies, Reaching a broad range of student populations, and imple- mentation of active, hands-on educational experiences
School-level projects
($10,000):
Solar Falcon Race Team at Palmdale High School, led by Sci- ence Teacher Matt Hinzie, this hands-on engineering project chal- lenges students to design, build, and race a solar-powered electric
car. Students apply principles from multiple STEM disciplines as they work through research, design, construction, testing, and competition phases. The project incorporates Air Force critical technologies related to renewable energy, aerodynamics, and ad- vanced manufacturing techniques including custom metal fabrication and composite materials.
How do we manage space?
At Tumbleweed Dual Immersion Elementary School, led by teacher Misti Larrick, this elementary-level project introduces young students to space management concepts through two interactive modules. Using Ozobots and Sphero robots, students learn about orbital me- chanics, satellite operations, and Earth observation from space. The first module focuses on gravity, forces, and commanding satellites, while the second explores how weather satellites help monitor Earth’s environment.
Glider Flight at Cabrillo High School & Engineering Design Path- way, led by Science and Engineering teacher Kenneth Fisher, this inno- vative project exposes students to STEM opportunities through flight test engineering concepts. Students learn flight theory, develop test plans, collect and analyze flight data, and even participate in actual glider flights.
“Soaring” above the clouds
at Fulton & Alsbury Academy, led by science teacher Michelle Reyn- olds, this creative project engages students in creating scaled models of historic aerospace and aviation achievements for display at the Antelope Valley Christmas Parade. Students research significant air- craft and spacecraft from the past
how aerospace manu- facturing teams operate. The project incorporates multiple Air Force criti- cal technologies includ- ing advanced materials, additive manufactur- ing, automated control systems, and rapid pro- totyping techniques. Students gain practi- cal engineering experi- ence while creating a functional machine that will be used to produce molds for composite fab- rication.
Bringing Engineer- ing to Life at Knight Preparatory Academy, led by science and engi- neering teacher James Stockdale, this innova- tive project engages 8th- grade pre-engineering students in building
Fifth graders from Palmdale Aerospace Academy wire their robots before they code them.