News from the Sarasota-Manatee Chapter of AFA

Air Force Association recognizes Manatee Science Fair winners
 
Two ninth grade students in the Manatee School District were recently singled out for recognition by the Sarasota-Manatee Chapter of the Air Force Association (AFA). The awards were presented at the January 28 awards ceremony for the Lockheed Martin Manatee Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

Anna Zimmerman – a student at Brandon River Middle School -- was honored for her Aerospace themed project – “An Eco-Friendly Rocket Fuel”. Her research evaluated the comparative performance of a hybrid rocket motor when using bees wax as a fuel as compared to paraffin based fuel.

 Merritt Kendzior poses next to her Science Fair
project, "Wing It."

The second honoree was Merritt Kendzior – a student at Southeast High School – for her project “Wing It”. Her research explored if varying the angle of incidence of a wing could change the speed needed to create specific amount of lift.

Anna Zimmerman displays her "First in Class" Science Fair plaque and the Air Force Association
Certificate of Achievement and Recognition Medal.

Chapter President Mike Richardson presented Zimmerman and Kendzior with AFA Certificates of Achievement and AFA Achievement Medals, a Sterling Publications book titled Solar System and a backpack full of promotional items provided by the United States Air Force and the Manatee County Air Force recruiters.

The Air Force Association has over 100,000 members in over 200 chapters worldwide. Its mission is to promote a dominant United States Air Force and a strong national defense, and to honor Airmen and our Air Force Heritage. To accomplish this, the Association pursues three major goals: EDUCATE the public on the critical need for unmatched aerospace power and a technically superior workforce to ensure U.S. national security; ADVOCATE for aerospace power and STEM education; and SUPPORT the total Air Force family and promote aerospace education.

 The Sarasota-Manatee Chapter of the Air Force Association (AFA) is the newest Chapter in the Association – having been awarded its charter in October 2012. It is comprised of approximately 300 members living in Sarasota & Manatee counties.