(courtesy photo)

“Team Serendipity”, an eighth-grade girl powerhouse of five from Ss. Simon and Jude School, will present its award-winning project from the latest Honeywell Fiesta Bowl Aerospace Challenge at least one more time.

The team will be part of the first “STEAM City” at Luke Air Force Days March 18. The girls will be among more than 25 interactive science, technology, engineering, art and math activities for all ages. Their exhibit will showcase their top-notch scale model and written report about an International Logistics Mission to colonize Phobos, a moon of Mars. The mission was designed to develop a plan to establish a sustainable base on Phobos with minimum support from Earth.

Team Serendipity earned first place in the Aerospace Challenge Feb. 10, making it the sixth time that Ss. Simon and Jude brought home such a title. The team will enjoy a week at Space Camp this summer and be featured at half-time during the Fiesta Bowl game. Ss. Simon and Jude is the only school to be a repeat winner since the competition debuted in 1999.

“ETT5,” a team from St. John XXIII School in Scottsdale, was among a trio that earned a “finalist” title this year. Over 200 teams comprised of 900 students competed in the middle school challenge.

In other STEAM news, March 16 marks the 10th year that Xavier College Preparatory students and faculty have hosted a “Girls Have IT Day” designed to get middle school girls involved and interested in STEAM. Listen to KJZZ interview. Several hundred students attended today.

And all Ss. Simon and Jude students got to “walk” on Mars this week.