“I was jumping, screaming and running around the house.”

“Very excited, I wanted to cry, but I didn’t want to show it so I just screamed.”

These were the reactions of 11-year-olds Brianna Azuara and Amanda Chavez when they found out their science experiment was selected out of 744 nationwide entries.

Through a step-by-step process, the students combined Gerber biscuits and water to test the rate of mold growth on Earth. But once their experiment reaches outer space, they’ll be able to discover the different rates of speed.

“Astronauts in the Space-X program are going to follow the same steps using Amanda and Briana’s test tube. Then once they’re in space, they’re going to release this clamp and be able to discover microgravity’s effect on the rate of mold growth.”

But, like any accomplishment, it came with a lot of hard work. The two girls described the most difficult parts of the project.

“All the researching and writing and stuff.”

“The re-writing of all the mistakes, and grabbing the mold.”

And that makes for one proud teacher.

“The proposals that they had to submit, they were all middle school, high school level and they were able to pull em off. It’s gonna go into space and microgravity and not many people get to say that. Something that you touched is gonna be out of this, ya know, world, so. This program lets students be a scientist.”