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After retiring from over 50 (combined) years of teaching – Jack and Kathy Colpas founded the Reach for the Stars – National Rocket Competition. Over 22,000 kids (age 10 to 18) have competed so far.
The goal of the program is to give kids the unique educational experience of building and launching their own solid-fuel powered model rocket. The mission is to keep alive the memory of the first Teacher-in-Space, Christa McAuliffe. The purpose is to foster an interest in model rocketry, STEAM subjects and aeronautics.
National winners of the competition have celebrated at the October Sky Festival, Coalwood, West Virginia (2007 – 2012), Astronaut Hall of Fame / Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (2008 – 2016), Space Camp / US Space & Rocket Center in ‘Rocket City’, Huntsville, Alabama (2012 – present).