Fort Stockton High School students participated in a state-level competition for TAME, the Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering on April 30.

The students were among the few that qualified through March's divisional competition at Odessa College.

Using the engineering design process, they were tasked with designing and constructing a prototype for an as-yet impossible technology—a space elevator. Saturday consisted of further recognition of their prowess.

Alexia Sanchez and John Christian Napay were given the Senior Excellence Award, which also included a cash scholarship of $200 each. Their sponsor, Mr. Marcos Mendoza, has managed to bring students to the state competition every year since he has been at Fort Stockton.

"I am very proud of my students, especially my seniors, who have been the core of our success in Academic UIL and TAME for the past four years,” Mendoza said. “I wish them the best in their future endeavors. They will be missed."