2023 SSTC Student Essay Contest (for 7th and 8th graders)

Starts:  Mar 28, 2023 09:00 (CT)
Ends:  Apr 30, 2023 17:00 (CT)
Associated with  Greater Huntsville Section

The Space Systems Technical Committee's annual essay contest is underway! All 7th and 8th grade students living within the Greater Huntsville Section's area are invited to participate. Participants need not have any AIAA affiliation, but students of Educator Associates and relatives of section members are especially encouraged to participate.

The theme for this year's contest is:

"Choose one aspect of the James Webb Space Telescope, describe how it works, and explain why it leads us to new discoveries and to answer important questions about the universe.”

Ideas must be original, logical, realistic, and well articulated. The essay must be 1000 words or less, typed, double-spaced, and use Times New Roman 12-point font.

A coversheet must accompany the essay.  Essays and coversheets are due to the AIAA Greater Huntsville Section by April 30, 2023. E-mail your essay and coversheet to distribution@hsv-aiaa.org.

The Greater Huntsville Section will select and announce both a 7th grade and 8th grade local winner on May 8, 2023. Section winners will each receive a personalized trophy, $30, and an invitation to attend the Greater Huntsville Section Annual Awards Banquet. Their essays will also be posted on the Greater Huntsville Section website and the winning essays will be submitted to compete for the national-level awards.

The AIAA Space Systems Technical Committee will select six overall national winners in the 7th grade and 8th grade categories (three in each). 1st place will be award $125, 2nd place will be awarded $75, and 3rd place will be awarded $50. Winners will be announced in June. Here are the deadlines at a glance:

  • April 30, 2023: National deadline for student/schools to submit their essays to their local sections officers (submit to distribution@hsv-aiaa.org).

  • May 8, 2023: AIAA GHS will notify the 7th and 8th grade local award winners and forward their essays to SSTC for the national contest.

  • June 2023: SSTC Announcement of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place national winners to sections/teachers/students.

  • September 2023: Winners announced in the September issue of Aerospace America Magazine.

Please contact distribution@hsv-aiaa.org or osborrj4@gmail.com if you have any questions. We look forward to reading your entries.