Alabama Leads all States with Fifty Teams in National Aerospace Engineering Competition | Events

MONTGOMERY, Alabama (November 21, 2012) – In Alabama’s second year of involvement in the Real World Design Challenge, a national aerospace engineering and design competition, Lt. Governor Kay Ivey proudly announced that Alabama leads all states with fifty teams registered to compete. The participation represents a significant increase from nineteen teams who registered in the first state competition in 2012.

The fifty teams, from thirty-two Alabama High Schools and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, will compete in an aviation challenge or a new surface challenge category added this year.

The teams, made up of 3-7 students, must conceptualize and design a Small Unmanned Aircraft System or design and evaluate efficiency improvements for a baseline tractor trailer. The students must also develop a business plan in support of commercial applications.

“The goal of the Real World Design Challenge is to increase student interest and participation in math and science. I am thrilled to see the level of participation in the competition this year. This type of hands-on, real world experience is invaluable to our students and for preparing our future workforce,” stated Lt. Governor Kay Ivey.

Alabama’s Real World Design Challenge is a partnership of the Office of Lt. Governor Kay Ivey and The Alabama Mathematics, Science, Technology, and Engineering Coalition for Education (AMSTEC).

Every participating team receives $1 million in professional engineering software, along with training, curriculum materials, and access to mentors. The state winners will be announced February 5-8, 2013. State champions win an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the national finals in April.

Schools participating:

Cherokee County Career & Technology Center - Centre
Bob Jones High School - Madison
Booker T. Washington High School - Tuskegee
North Jackson High School - Stevenson
PD Jackson Olin High School - Birmingham
Sulligent High School - Sulligent
Cullman High School - Cullman
Lee and New Century High Schools - Huntsville
Sweet Water High School - Sweet Water
Coosa Valley Academy High School - Harpersville
Brewbaker Tech *8 teams* - Montgomery
Bullock County High School - Union Springs
Prattville Christian Academy - Prattville
Cedar Bluff High School - Cedar Bluff
Holy Family Cristo Rey - Birmingham
McIntosh High School - McIntosh
South Lamar School - Millport
Wilcox Central High School - Camden
Pleasant Grove High School - Pleasant Grove
U.S. Space and Rocket Center - Huntsville
Sylacauga High School - Sylacauga
North Baldwin Center for Technology - Bay Minette
W.P. Davidson High School - Mobile
Elijah Christ *Students from Montgomery Technology Education Center* - Montgomery
Conecuh Springs Christian School - Union Springs
Meek High School - Arley
Huffman High School - Birmingham
Oak Mountain High School *9 teams* - Birmingham
North Jackson High School - Stevenson
Fort Payne High School *2 teams* - Fort Payne - 2012 Winning Team
LeCroy Academy of S.T.E.M. - Clanton
Virgil I. Grissom High School *2 teams* - Huntsville

Information Source: Office of the Lt. Governor