Skip To Main Content

STEM Excellence Takes Flight

the student winners stand in front of the screen with Ms. Hartle and Dr. Bakisli
STEM Excellence Takes Flight

We are incredibly proud to celebrate our LISA Academy West Middle School scholars who have been named finalists in the NASA TechRise Competition!

Congratulations to team members Aanya, Siddhi, Jayni, and Arnavi, who will investigate how different SPF levels impact the amount of UV radiation reaching a surface at high altitudes; real-world science with real-world impact!

Guided by Mrs. Hartle, the team’s NASA TechRise Team Lead, our students will meet with NASA engineers every Monday from January 26 through May as they design and build their experiment. NASA TechRise is providing:

  • Expert guidance
  • A $1,500 budget
  • A specialized flight box for their experiment
  • Will launch on a flight test vehicle in summer 2026. How amazing is that?!

This ambitious project truly takes a village, and we are grateful for the incredible support already in place. Special thanks to Mr. Aras for preparing the required technology, along with our Communications and Finance teams, and to Mr. Eren, Mrs. Acikgoz, Mrs. Yaman, Ms. Pektas, Mr. Hartle, and Mr. Ward for being ready to support every step of the way.

From the classroom to the edge of space, this is what learning looks like at LISA Academy.

Check out the video here!