Carroll High School Rocket Team Advances to National Finals of World’s Largest Rocket Competition

Southlake, Texas — Carroll Rocketeers from Carroll ISD have qualified to compete in the National Finals of the 23rd annual American Rocketry Challenge – the world’s largest student rocket competition. The team is one of 100 teams from across the country vying for the title of National Champion. The National Finals will take place on Saturday, May 17 in The Plains, Virginia, 45 miles outside Washington, DC. The Carroll Rocketeers team consisted of these members; Vince Sanouvong (11th grade), Abhijay Nalajala (11th grade), Ayur Madupur (11th grade), and Sreethan Karna (11th grade).

"The students on our rocket team have gained invaluable experience with problem-solving, teamwork and creativity, finding new ways to work together. I’m very proud of what they have achieved and look forward to competing against other deserving teams from across the country," said Mrs. Kuehn, the teacher-sponsor for the Carroll Rocketeer Team. She teaches Algebra II at Carroll High School and has been the sponsor of the school's Aerospace Club for the last two years.

Sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association, the National Association of Rocketry, and more than 15 industry, government, and academic partners, the American Rocketry Challenge is the aerospace and defense industry’s flagship program designed to encourage students to pursue study and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The competition challenges middle and high school students to design, build and fly a rocket that meets specific altitude and flight duration parameters.

American Rocketry Challenge alumni are working across industry - among them is NASA astronaut Warren “Woody” Hoburg, who competed in the National Finals of the first-ever American Rocketry Challenge in 2002. In 2023, Hoburg launched into space as the Pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station.

"The American Rocketry Challenge is not only a great learning experience – it’s a lot of fun!" said Vince Sanouvong, captain of the Carroll Rocketeers. "We are super excited to compete against other rocket teams at the National Finals. For many of us, this is the beginning of what we hope is a long career in a STEM-related field. It’s cool that a former American Rocketry Challenge finalist spent time in space at the International Space Station."

This year's rules required teams to design, build, and launch model rockets that could safely carry two raw eggs to an altitude of 790 feet, stay airborne for between 41 and 44 seconds, and return the rocket to the ground safely.

For the Southlake team, they were tied to the school's Aerospace Club, ran by Vince Sanouvong. Only 100 teams out of 1,001 teams made it to the Final Fly-offs. For the Carroll Rocketeers, it was their first year competing in the American Rocketry Challenge.

The Carroll Rocketeers will compete for more than $100,000 in cash and prizes, as well as the title of National Champion, which includes a chance to represent the United States at the International Rocketry Challenge in June. The top 25 teams will automatically earn spots in NASA’s Student Launch Initiative.

Now in its 23rd year, the American Rocketry Challenge has inspired middle and high school students to explore education and careers in STEM fields. This year, a record-breaking 1,001 teams representing 46 states designed and built model rockets in hopes of qualifying for the National Finals. For more information about the 2025 American Rocketry Challenge, please visit www.rocketcontest.org