Published: Wednesday, Jul. 22, 2009

Updated: Wednesday, Jul. 22, 2009

Rocket contest seeks entriesLocal ‘Rocketman’: ‘This could change some kid’s life’

rdymond@bradenton.com

It’s been 40 years since astronaut Neil Armstrong climbed down the ladder of the lunar module, took a small step and announced he had taken a giant leap for mankind.

While it’s not likely others will soon get to duplicate Armstrong’s walk on the moon, what is possible is to recreate the excitement, anticipation and learning experience of a rocket launch, says a former Manatee educator.

“This could change some kid’s life,” said Jack Colpas, a former Harllee and Haile middle school science teacher who was nicknamed, “The Rocketman” for his love for rocketry. “Everyone remembers their first rocket launch.”

Five years ago, Colpas and his wife, Kathy, who live in Sarasota, founded Helping Kids Reach For The Stars, which now is holding its third annual national rocket contest culminating with winners attending the October Sky Festival in Coalwood, W.Va., on Oct. 3.

The Colpases founded the organization with the goal of giving kids the opportunity of building and launching a solid fuel rocket.

“In my 33 years in a science classroom, nothing turns kids onto science more than a rocket launch,” Jack Colpas said. “And the only thing more exciting than a rocket launch is a rocket contest.”

For $160, leaders of youth groups can get 12 rocket kits, including engines, igniters and wadding, achievement certificates, group registration and national contest entry forms, Colpas said.

Manatee and Sarasota county youth groups that decide to participate would hold local rocket contests and submit to Colpas by the Aug. 15 deadline the name and data for the group member whose rocket landed closest to a target placed 20-feet down range from the launch site after averaging two launches.

“The entrant who has the closest average landing of all entries I receive nationwide by the deadline gets to attend the October Sky Festival,” Colpas said.

The contest will feature winners from three levels: ages 10 to 14, 10 to 18 and 10 to adult.

This year would be an ideal year for entering the contest because entries are expected to be down, Colpas said.

“Some groups have decided not to purchase the rockets due to the economy,” Colpas said. “Some teachers we work with have had their programs cut back.”

For 2009 as in past years, winners will be greeted at the October Sky Festival by author Homer Hickam, who wrote the book “Rocket Boys,” which was the inspiration for the movie, ”October Sky.”

“Mr. Hickam actually presents their trophy to them,” Colpas said.

Kathy Colpas met her husband 43 years ago. They’ve been married for 41 years.

“Wherever we go, teachers are impressed with Jack’s energy and enthusiasm,” Kathy Colpas said of her husband. “You can tell when you meet him that he loves this work.”

One of the highlights of the Colpas’ involvement in rocketry was meeting Grace Corrigan, mother of Christa McAuliffe, the first woman school teacher in space.

McAuliffe’s life was cut short in the explosion of the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger.

“What a sweet lady,” Kathy Colpas said of Corrigan. “She still does talks, keeping her daughter’s name alive.”

Helping Kids Reach For The Stars has become an educational outreach program for the Christa McAuliffe Challenger Learning Center in Massachusetts.

Eligibility specifications for rockets and further contest details can be found at, www.TheRocketman.net. or by calling 955-3958.

Richard Dymond, Herald reporter, can be reached at 708-7917.