Behind every mission to the stars are storytellers who bring science and discovery back to Earth. Aiden Elswick and Kricket Young, students in Ozarks Tech’s Electronic Media Production (EMP) program, did just that—earning first place in the postsecondary division of this year’s NASA HUNCH Student Video Challenge.
The national competition, developed through a partnership between the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and NASA HUNCH (High Schools United with NASA to Create Hardware), challenges students to produce videos highlighting NASA missions and related career pathways.
This year’s theme, “Gateway to the Cosmos — NASA’s Lunar Outpost,” asked students to explore NASA’s vision for a space station around the moon. Elswick and Young’s winning video turns complex concepts about deep-space exploration into a clear, engaging narrative that emphasizes human curiosity.
The pair led every stage of production, from concept and filming to editing and postproduction, showcasing technical skill, creativity and storytelling developed through the EMP program.
In a message to the students, ACTE praised their creativity, technical ability and the strong link between project-based learning and actual NASA applications.
Both students also work as content creators for the EMP department through the college’s work-study program. The experience offered a chance to apply their skills in a real-world context.
“I am incredibly proud of Aiden and Kricket,” said Dana Price, Ozarks Tech EMP instructor. “This national recognition highlights not only their talent and dedication, but also the value of hands-on learning in the EMP program.”
As the winning entry, the video will be featured across ACTE and NASA HUNCH platforms. The college will also receive a HUNCH mission patch that traveled on the International Space Station. It will join a growing collection of space memorabilia at Ozarks Tech, which includes a rare space rock awarded to students in the SEDS Space Techs Club, who won a national competition at the SEDS Conference in Seattle last fall.