For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Easton’s Oliver Ames High School to Host NASA Representative for HUNCH Program Kickoff Event

EASTON — Superintendent Lisha Cabral is pleased to announce that Dr. Florence Gold of NASA will visit Oliver Ames High School on Wednesday, Sept. 25 for the school’s High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) kickoff event.

This is the first year that Oliver Ames is taking part in the NASA HUNCH program. The students in the Fashion Design, Construction and Technology class will be designing and creating products while media students will be working on a video challenge.

The HUNCH program is a national project-based learning program where students participate in the design and fabrication of real products for NASA. HUNCH is currently in over 200 schools in 38 states. The program has already involved hundreds of students who have helped create products used by NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

“We’re very excited to be bringing this program to Oliver Ames,” Family and Consumer Science teacher Betti Almeida said. “It is such a great privilege for our students to be part of this program that’s doing important work to help NASA.”

Dr. Gold, the NASA Johnson Space Center HUNCH mentor for Massachusetts, will be presenting information about NASA HUNCH Softgoods, also known as Sewn Flight Articles. Softgoods is a program that uses fabric or other soft materials to design and create materials to keep the space station crew safe, clean and comfortable during their stay. Past softgoods projects have included footpads and organizers for the crews’ personal items.

“Real-world work that results in a tangible product is an excellent way for our students to apply the skills they have learned in the classroom,” Oliver Ames Principal Wes Paul said. “This program will be a valuable way for students to get hands-on experience and introduce them to the many career paths that are available in the aerospace field.”

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