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Home : Media : News
NEWS | May 9, 2024

NSWC Crane announces winners in student hypersonics video challenge

By Emily Gray, NSWC Crane Corporate Communications

Joint Hypersonics Transition Office (JHTO), in collaboration with Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane), announced winners for Hypersonic Horizons: The High Speed Video Challenge.

Hypersonic Horizons: The High Speed Video Challenge was open to high school students and college undergraduates. To compete, students created a three-to-five minute video responding to the questions, “What is a possible benefit of further developing hypersonic travel?” and, “What is a physics or engineering problem that needs to be overcome in order to make hypersonic travel a reality?”

Winners announced below.

High School

  1. Gavin Lacefield (New Tech Institute High School, Evansville, IN)
  2. Eliza Brinkman (Advanced Learning Academy, San Antonio, TX)
  3. Jordan Rahe, Kenneth Moeller, Shea Lopez (North Marion High School, Ocala, FL)
  4. Saxon Sturgis (Socorro High School, Socorro, NM)
  5. Alexander Guinn (Barr-Reeve High School, Montgomery, IN)

College

  1. Thomas Ortega, Cecilia Juarez (University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA)
  2. Sophia Edwards (University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN)
  3. Norina Kwan (University of Maryland, College Park, MD)
  4. Varsha Murali, Megan Welsh, Lewis Ward (Texas A&M University, College Station, TX)
  5. Patrick Hughes (University of Texas at San Antonio, TX)

Dr. Lori Stiglitz, JHTO's Workforce Development Lead, at NSWC Crane, was excited to see the amount of interest and attention, this challenge brought forward for young people.

“I am thrilled with the student participation in our inaugural Hypersonic Horizons prize challenge! It is clear from the video submissions, that we have a passionate and motivated workforce of tomorrow. I look forward to continuing to stay engaged with these high schools and undergraduate programs to encourage the next generation of hypersonics professionals,” said Dr. Stiglitz.

About NSWC Crane | NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) with mission areas in Expeditionary Warfare, Strategic Missions and Electromagnetic Warfare. The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi- spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing capability to today's Warfighter.

Join Our Team! NAVSEA employs a diverse, highly trained, educated, and skilled workforce - from students and entry level employees to experienced professionals and individuals with disabilities. We support today's sophisticated Navy and Marine Corps ships, aircraft, weapon systems and computer systems. We are continuously looking for engineers, scientists, IT and cyber specialists, as well as trade and other support professionals to ensure the U.S. Navy can protect and defend America. Please contact NSWC Crane Human Resources at crane_recruiting@navy.mil.