Several Mars Area High School students were named finalists in the “Meet the Mars Challenge,” held as part of the 2023 Mars New Year Festival.

Students are sophomore Mary Snow for her entry, “Bringing Life to Mars — Terraforming;” sophomore Carson Mahan, “Home Away from Home;” seventh-grader Sage Mahan, “Red Planet Explorers;” fourth-grader Sloane Plutko, “Radient Red Café;” fourth-grader Noah Fecich and third-grader Luke Fecich, “RegolithGro by FeciFarms;” and third-grader Spencer Mahan for “Parachute Drop.” All finalists will be honored at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, on the Main Stage at the Mars New Year Festival in Downtown Mars.

The “Meet the Mars Challenge,” open to students in grades 3-12, is a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) competition that asks participants to address a specific challenge or need that may be faced in the colonization of Mars.

For more information, visit https://marsnewyear.com/mars-steam-challenge/.