Three Pennridge students seek board approval to present NASA drop‑tower research at national conference

Three Pennridge High School students who entered a NASA drop‑tower challenge and placed third nationally asked the district to approve an overnight field trip so they can present at the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research conference.

Mr. Keddy read a statement submitted by the students explaining their project: they developed a non‑mechanical paddle wheel that spins in microgravity by exploiting hydrophilic and hydrophobic material properties — a sponge “caterpillar” idea that NASA tested in a prototype. The students said NASA published their academic paper and accepted an abstract for presentation at the conference, offering the team professional exposure and networking opportunities relevant to STEM career pathways.

District staff told the committee the district would pay the registration fee and the students plan to fundraise for travel and lodging; staff provided a ballpark per‑person cost (roughly $967 per traveler) and indicated the teacher sponsor would accompany the students. The committee agreed to advance the request to the board for approval and suggested the students present to the full board at a later meeting; no board approval vote is recorded in the committee transcript.