The Farmersville Junior High Rocketry team at NASA headquarters. The team, led by Coach Michael Daigrepont, left, included Jayla Shufeldt, Francisco Lara, Baneza Meija and Melody Newhouse. They were supported by Raphael Yanez, Ian Cadena and Ian Cruz. Courtesy photo

A group of students from Farmersville Junior High School recently returned from Washington, D.C., after competing in the American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) Nationals, where they earned national recognition for their achievements in aerospace science.

The team—Jayla Shufeldt, Francisco Lara, Baneza Meija and Melody Newhouse, with support from Raphael Yanez, Ian Cadena and Ian Cruz—ranked in the top 10 percent of rocketry teams nationwide. They were led by Coach Michael Daigrepont and mentor Dr. Overton, who guided the students through months of preparation and hands-on problem-solving.

The road to nationals wasn’t without challenges including bad weather during practice launches and limited access to supplies. Despite the challenges, they advanced to the second round at the ARC Nationals and competed against high school teams, narrowly missing a top-25 finish.

One of the team’s standout achievements was the design and launch of a fully 3D-printed rocket, crafted from aerospace-grade materials—the only one of its kind at the national competition. They also engineered a 3D-printed wind tunnel, which they plan to donate to the school’s Career Investigations class.

“Having our rocket stand out like that was really exciting,” Shufeldt said. “It felt great to see all our hard work noticed by professionals and other teams.”

Daigrepont praised the team’s persistence and creativity.

“They stayed focused, worked through setbacks, and came up with some really creative solutions,” he said. “Competing at this level as junior high students is something they should be proud of.”

While in the nation’s capital, the students met with U.S. Rep. Keith Self and toured historic landmarks and museums, including the National Air and Space Museum. The trip offered them a deeper understanding of aerospace and sparked increased interest in STEM-related careers.

“This trip gave them memories they’ll hold on to and maybe even helped a few of them figure out what they want to do in the future,” said Dr. Overton.

The trip was made possible by support from local businesses, community members and the Farmersville Independent School District.

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