[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 30, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY STUDENTS 
      SELECTED AS FINALISTS IN NASA'S EXPLORATION DESIGN CHALLENGE

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                            HON. BILL FOSTER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 30, 2014

  Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the student 
engineers of Team Titan from the Illinois Mathematics and Science 
Academy for being selected as national finalists in NASA's Exploration 
Design Challenge. Team Titan, led by Dr. Eric Hawker, is one of just 
five high school teams from across the country to be selected as 
finalists for the opportunity to contribute to the design of radiation 
shields for NASA's Orion spacecraft.
  Over 125,000 students from 81 countries have participated in NASA's 
Exploration Design Challenge. This competition is designed to engage 
students on the topic of space exploration and challenge them to think 
like scientists and engineers.
  The shield designed by Team Titan could protect a sensor inside the 
Orion spacecraft against space radiation. Team Titan's design was 
reviewed by Orion engineers, as well as educators from NASA and the 
National Institute of Aerospace, and selected as a finalist among the 
forty-six teams that submitted engineering notebooks with radiation 
shield designs.
  IMSA has continuously demonstrated a dedication to offering the kind 
of education necessary to create future generations of scientists and 
engineers. Team Titan's selection as a finalist in NASA's Exploration 
Design Challenge provides a shining example of why IMSA is 
internationally recognized for its leadership in teaching science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics to students in grades 10-12.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Dr. Eric Hawker, and the 
students of Team Titan: Cassandra Erwin, Ryan Franks, Claire Hensley, 
Michael Hrcek, Alec Mangan, and Alonzo Marsh, for being selected as 
finalists in NASA's Exploration Design Challenge.

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