Members of the Hamilton High School (HHS) Rocketry Club have been named the only students in the state of Wisconsin to advance to the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) 2026 American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) National Finals. Students competed against more than 1107 teams from across the country to secure a position among the top 100 highest scoring teams.
“Advancing to these national championships brings great pride to our school community and shines a light on the extraordinary talent and potential of HHS students,” shares Hamilton High School Junior and Rocketry Club President and Co-Founder Patrick Wang.
To qualify for the ARC National Finals, teams had to design, build and launch custom rockets engineered to reach 750 feet in altitude and achieve a precise flight duration between 36 and 39 seconds. This incredible accomplishment showcases innovative design, advanced technology and engineering skill.
“This historic milestone was not achieved in isolation,” Wang adds. “It is the result of tremendous support from the Hamilton School District, our families, our mentor Dan Wolf and our parent volunteer director Hima Kanaparthy. We are grateful for their dedication and leadership.”
The 2026 ARC National Finals will take place in The Plains, Virginia in May where teams will face a new set of flight requirements designed to test their engineering adaptability and problem-solving skills.