FORT WORTH, TEXAS, May 12, 2016 – Two student teams sponsored by Elbit Systems of America have qualified for this year’s Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) National Finals, held May 14 in The Plains, Va., outside Washington, D.C.

The teams—including an all-girls’ team—represent Lincoln High School, located in Talladega County, Ala. Elbit Systems of America Chief Engineer Denton Marlowe mentors both teams during the school year, leading weekday classroom sessions and weekend rocket launches.

TARC is a key piece of the aerospace and defense industry’s strategy to build a stronger U.S. workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Elbit Systems of America is a national Gold Sponsor of the TARC program, which is administered by the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry.

Across the United States, 789 teams competed in this year’s TARC qualifying round. Students had to design and build rockets that could accommodate a payload of two eggs placed perpendicular to each other. The rockets had to launch successfully, carry their payloads at least 850 feet, and remain airborne between 44 and 46 seconds. As an added challenge, the eggs should not be cracked or broken after the flight. A new challenge awaits the 100 teams that qualified for nationals.

“Our nation’s security depends on a skilled aerospace and defense workforce. By supporting STEM education through programs such as TARC, we’re introducing students to the A&D industry and inspiring them to pursue the many opportunities this industry provides,” said Elbit Systems of America President and CEO Raanan Horowitz.

“I’m thrilled both teams Elbit Systems of America is sponsoring met the rigorous engineering challenge to qualify for the TARC National Finals. Congratulations to the students from Lincoln High School in Alabama. I look forward to following their progress during the competition,” Horowitz said.