Two teams of Citrus College science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students recently made institutional history when they participated in prestigious competitions organized by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

A team of eight Citrus College students known as the Rocket Owls joined groups from 47 other American colleges and universities in designing, constructing, and launching rockets as part of NASA’s annual Student Launch project in April.

While this is the fifth consecutive year that Citrus College has been represented at the competition, this is the best they have ever performed. The Rocket Owls completed the challenge in fourth place, finishing after first place Vanderbilt University, second place University of Louisville, and third place Cornell University.

Several days earlier, the team known as the Galactic Owls was the only group from California selected to participate in NASA’s international Human Exploration Rover Challenge, or HERC. The five students from Citrus College travelled to Huntsville, Ala. to design, build, and race human-powered rovers April 7-9, 2016.

The Galactic Owls competed against college and university teams from throughout the United States, as well as teams from Russia, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and India. The Citrus College students successfully completed the mandatory rover obstacle race and the optional sample collection challenge.

- Submitted by Citrus College