Eight students, with two teachers, from Fairport High School’s NASA Space Research course will travel to Houston, Texas at the end of April to present their projects to NASA engineers and astronauts as part of their participation in the NASA HUNCH Extreme Science Program.

The students from Fairport are among three teams that were selected (Fairport had six total teams), with 75 total teams invited across the country, for the NASA HUNCH Design and Prototype project final review. There are currently more than 120 schools in the program with multiple teams per school since students work in small groups.

The best ideas will be manufactured and sent to space for testing on board the International Space Station (ISS).

“We are proud that Fairport has half of our students’ work chosen as finalists,” said Science Teacher Donna Himmelberg. “This says great deal about the quality of work by our students!”

Science Teacher Gene Gordon adds that the NASA program creates the well-rounded STEM graduates that businesses and colleges say they are looking for.

“By providing this opportunity to our students, the Fairport community is creating the leaders of tomorrow’s STEM fields.”

In addition to this year’s finalists, Fairport currently has one former project from two years ago – astronaut slippers – being tested on the ISS. Another former project from Fairport students from five years ago – a UV LED bacteria killing wand – is currently being prepared to be sent to the ISS.