10th Annual Event at NASA

On May 14, 2025, Beating the Odds Foundation held its 10th annual student event in cooperation with NASA called the Quarterbacks of Life®/NASA Research Challenge. The event was held at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland.

106 middle and high school students led by 10 teachers participated in the challenge at GSFC. Student teams were from Altoona Area Jr. High School (Altoona, PA), Antelope Valley Learning Academy (Palmdale, CA), Hollidaysburg Area Jr. High School (Hollidaysburg, PA), Laurel Highlands Middle School (Uniontown, PA), and Muhlenberg Junior High School (Reading, PA).

During the morning tour of GSFC, students visited NASA’s Hyperwall for a Planetary Science presentation. The Hyperwall is a video wall capable of displaying multiple high-definition data visualizations and/or images simultaneously across an arrangement of screens. The Hyperwall is used to help explain phenomena, ideas, or examples of world change. Students also got a chance to view the world’s largest cleanroom (Class 10,000) and learned about the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope that will function as Hubble’s wide-eyed cousin. One additional stop was at The Earth Science Mission Operations (ESMO). Students learned about how ESMO is responsible for spacecraft maintenance and operations for Earth Science missions conducted by the Earth Science Projects Division at GSFC.

Following lunch, Rocco Scalzi welcomed everyone and thanked the partners and sponsors of Beating the Odds Foundation who made this possible. Rocco then introduced two very special guests for a Q&A. Scott “Scooter” Altman, Aerospace Engineer and former NASA Astronaut and Naval Aviator; and Dr. Charity Woodrum, NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow, Astrophysics Division.

Travis Wohlrab, Public Engagement Officer, GSFC, spoke to the students about what they do at the premiere space flight complex and the advances in new technologies that enable tomorrow’s explorers to see further.

This year’s challenge was an in-depth study of success by examining NASA’s Moon to Mars Planetary Autonomous Construction Technologies (MMPACT) project. Geologist Jennifer Edmunson and principal investigator and senior advisor Dr. Corky Clinton from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama joined the students virtually to talk about NASA’s plans for long-term human exploration of the Moon under Artemis and the new technologies that are required to meet the unique challenges of living and working on another world.

Student teams presented their research challenge on MMPACT and their own lives using the Blueprint for Success.

This year’s event was made possible through the valued partnership of the McShane Family Foundation and Agenda, along with the generous support of ADC Aerospace, Central PA Cardiology, Curve Charities, Customers Bank, First National Bank, Keller Engineers, Sheetz, Walmart, Joseph Shulman, Chuck and Shirley Baily, Donald Ruggery Jr., Frank and Heather Rasler, and Thomas and Kelly Warters. Their contributions played a vital role in the success of this event.

Photo attribution: NASA/Katy Comber