Stoke Space Field Trip with Adelaide Elementary School

On March 13, 2025, 4th and 5th-grade IGNITE Students from Adelaide Elementary School had the opportunity to visit Stoke Space for an inspiring and action-packed IGNITE Field Trip.

The visit began with a tour of Stoke’s rocket factory, led by Kristen Russell, Ann Kerker, Director of Human Resources, and Jake Larkin, Payload Engineer. As the students explored the facility on a scavenger hunt, they saw massive 3D printers and real rocket engines, learning firsthand how rockets are built and what goes into creating the world’s first fully reusable medium-lift rocket.

The experience was capped off with a pizza lunch and an engaging panel discussion with Panelists Brittany Feldman, Senior Test Engineer, Diana Saha, Senior Software Engineer, and McKenzie Kinzbach, Manufacturing Engineer, facilitated by Kelly Hennig, Chief Operating Officer. Students asked a wide range of thoughtful questions, including: What education did you have to finish to work here? What do you like best about your job? What is a mistake you’ve made at work? Do you enjoy working at Stoke? Do all the men who work here respect you as a woman? What did you like or hate about school? What was your first job? How do you get a job working here?

The Panelists encouraged the students to pursue their interests, even if something seems hard or scary, and emphasized the importance of staying in school and getting a good education.

According to Educator Nina Meyer, the students were deeply engaged throughout the day. “This field trip was phenomenal,” she said. “The girls really enjoyed getting to see what it looks like inside a working office and operating facility, and they loved meeting the engineers, scientists, and technicians who work there.”