Hamilton High School students attended the 65th National Association of Rocketry Annual Meet (NARAM) in Pueblo, Colorado August 3-9. Hamilton High School senior Aniket Singh was awarded the title of National Champion in Division B. Sophomore Patrick Wang was awarded the title of National Champion in Division A.
NARAM participants compete in set events involving altitude, flight duration, payloads, craftsmanship and more. Divisions are based on participants’ age.
“I enjoy participating in the Hamilton Rocketry Club because launching rockets is so much fun and even more so when it is a team effort,” explains Singh. “It is a thrill to hear the woosh of our rocket when it shoots up in the air and to see its parachutes deploy as it starts to descend. To see what we built, work and succeed makes me happy and gives me a great sense of satisfaction,” he adds.
“When you start it’s just putting together parts and building something that goes up and comes down in one piece,” explains Wang. “After that, you start using simulation software to design a rocket. Then, you begin to learn basic aerodynamic principles so you understand how to optimize rocket design and it just keeps going on.” Wang enjoys the many areas of interest you can explore as a member of the Hamilton Rocketry Club. “You can learn about electronics, 3D printing, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and so much more, or you can just stay simple and focus on making a model that goes up and comes down, and regardless of what you do, it’s always fun just to see a rocket fly,” Wang adds.
“Aniket and Patrick’s efforts put Hamilton High School and Wisconsin on the map in the model rocketry field,” says Hamilton Rocketry Club Director Hima Kanaparthy. “Representing the US at an international level is no easy task. If you put your heads together and work hard, you will achieve your goals which inspire other kids to follow and also instills passion in them,” she explains. “Their success projects a sense of confidence in students that there are people who can guide them and help them move forward and they too can reach levels that these two kids have reached.”
Wang says rocketry is a great place to start for students interested in aerospace or those who would like to get involved with something STEM-related. ”It’s a relatively low commitment, team based club. But it’s also very rewarding to people who put in some effort.
Singh encourages other students to consider joining the Hamilton Rocketry Club. “If you enjoy building machines, working with crafts, or are interested in a future career in engineering, you will have a blast with the Hamilton Rocketry Club,” he says. “You will have fun while learning. The Rocketry Club is accessible to all skill levels.”
“Rocketry club is open to all middle and high schoolers who want to learn something new,” adds Kanaparthy. “It is all hands on, creative and a challenge to your problem solving skills.”
The National Association of Rocketry (NAR) is America’s largest and oldest rocketry organization. The non-profit organization is dedicated to consumer safety, youth education and the advancement of technology in the hobby of spacemodeling (sport rocketry) in the United States.