May 30, 2023

Kent ISD Launch U Students Reach Top 5 in NASA Competition, Send Signatures to Space

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Kent ISD Launch U and Grand Rapids Community College students Abby Tichelaar and Cole Herring signed a NASA stowage locker now headed to the International Space Station. They were granted this honor after placing in the top five of high school students competing in the NASA HUNCH Competition in May.

Tichelaar, from Rockford High, and Herring, from Lowell High, participated in Kent ISD’s Launch U program where they earned Associate Degrees along with their high school diplomas through a partnership with Grand Rapids Community College. The pair studied biomedical engineering and used their learning in that area to design and create edible cargo transfer boxes for space travel. The project earned them a top five finish in NASA’s HUNCH competition held at the Johnson Space Center in Houston last month.

A second team, Ottawa Area ISD Careerline Tech Center and GRCC Culinary students Katie Bird and Devon Vanderwall, were among the top ten finalists competing to present a recipe for space travel. Dr. Werner Absenger, the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education's program director at GRCC, served as coach for both teams. “Being selected as finalists by the NASA HUNCH program is a tremendous validation of their work's merit, during which they gained valuable insights, interdisciplinary research, and collaboration skills across culinary, environmental, and space industries," said Absenger. The four students - along other NASA HUNCH teams -- were asked to sign their names on a stowage locker that will be placed aboard the space station.

“This was a tremendous opportunity for our students and we are so proud of their accomplishment. Launch U provides an opportunity for students to achieve success at the college level while earning their associate degree with no college debt by the time they finish high school,” said Ron Koehler, Kent ISD Superintendent. “A record number of 44 students completed one of four Launch U pathways this year and we are excited to welcome more students into this program in the fall.”

Students interested in applying for Launch U should contact their high school guidance counselor prior to entering their sophomore year. Please direct media inquiries to Joy Walczak, Kent ISD Communications Specialist at joywalczak@kentisd.org or 906.632.6290.