U.S. Virgin Islands Students Showcase Rockets at the 5th White House Science Fair

Team Caribbean Splash from the U.S. Virgin Islands exhibited their rockets and discussed their participation in the Team America Rocketry Challenge with President Obama this morning at the 5th White House Science Fair.The team was invited to join the White House’s celebration of students from across the country who are engaged and excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Each year the Science Fair has a different theme and this year’s focus was diversity and inclusion in STEM. In addition to highlighting a number of impressive projects and inventions, the President also announced new steps of his Educate to Innovate campaign to get more girls and boys, especially those from traditionally underrepresented groups, inspired and prepared to excel in critical STEM fields.

Hailing from the island of St. Croix, Caribbean Splash is hoping to bring the TARC national championship title home to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Led by their captain and high school senior Stephanie Bullock, the team is comprised of tenth grader Shimeeka Stanley, eighth grader Gabriel St. Kitts and seventh graders Maria Heywood and Amari De Souza. 

“We are extremely proud of Team Caribbean Splash for their accomplishments and dedication to their education in STEM,” said AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey. “The fact that TARC has been invited to participate every year in the White House Science Fair is a testament to the success of this educational program that has inspired tens of thousands of students over its 13-year history.” 

The 2015 TARC contest challenges students to design and build a rocket that can fly to 800 feet and back within 46 to 48 seconds while carrying a raw egg that must return to the ground undamaged. Caribbean Splash is one of 700 teams representing 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico that are contesting to qualify for the national finals scheduled for Saturday, May 9 in The Plains, VA. For additional information on TARC please visit www.rocketcontest.org.