A team of students from Carroll High School is reaching new heights in aerospace innovation. The Carroll Rocketeers have been named one of 100 national finalists in the 2025 American Rocketry Challenge—the world’s largest student rocket contest. They are the only team from the Dallas-Fort Worth area to advance to the National Finals, which will be held May 17 in The Plains, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C.
The team is made up of four 11th graders: Vince Sanouvong (team captain and Aerospace Club president), Abhijay Nalajala (vice president), Ayur Madupur, and Sreethan Karna. Together, they designed and perfected a dual-deployment rocket after months of testing, engine swaps and rebuilds. This is their first year competing—and they’ve already rocketed into the national spotlight.
The Rocketeers are part of Carroll High’s Aerospace Club, which Vince founded during his sophomore year. Now in its second year, the club has grown under the guidance of math teacher and club sponsor Mrs. Kuehn, who teaches Algebra II and has supported the students’ efforts from day one.
With over 1,000 teams competing nationwide, the Rocketeers are proud to represent Carroll ISD, Southlake, and the entire state of Texas on the national stage.