Press Release

George Washington High School Takes Third Place In NASA/ MESA USA National Design Engineering Competition

June 25, 2001

A team representing Colorado from George Washington High School took home third place in the NASA/MESA USA National Design Engineering Competition in Tuscon, Arizona over the past weekend. The team competed against six other states to see who could design a glider propelled by rubber bands that would fly the greatest distance.

Students Allen Asher, Lee Asher, Sean MacFarlane and Danny Goldberg carefully engineered the GW glider so that it flew straight while avoiding the ceiling and side walls of a gymnasium.

"The competition is no easy task," said the GW team's sponsor, Donna Holmes. "It requires teamwork, knowledge of physics and aeronautical engineering."

The thirty member George Washington High School MESA (Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement) Club is well know for its dedication to academic excellence. They meet weekly to work on a variety of projects.

"We strive for excellence in everything we do, but especially in the areas of technology, math, science and engineering," said Holmes. "I couldn't be prouder of any team. They are self-directed, hardworking, well mannered sportsmen."

The competition was a first time event for the student members of MESA and was sponsored by NASA, Raytheon Corporation and the University of Arizona. The team's corporate sponsor was Seagate.

This year students at George Washington also won the Colorado State Balsa Glider Competition at the University of Colorado and the overall high school division at the Imagine Engineering and Design Competition at the University of Southern Colorado.