Did you know that the winner of April’s Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Challenge Competition, Declan Reed, was not only a dedicated high school student but also a participant in multiple ORION STEM camps? We caught up with Declan amidst his busy schedule to learn more about his passion for STEM, his experience with ORION, and his future aspirations.
1. Tell us more about yourself.
“My name is Declan Reed, and I’m a junior at Christian Brothers Academy. My favorite subject is AP Physics, thanks to my amazing teacher. Outside of the classroom, I’m very involved in sports—I run for the Cross Country, Indoor, and Outdoor Track teams. I also enjoy playing the clarinet in my school’s band and recently joined the chorus.
In my free time, especially during this season, I love going golfing with my friends. My biggest hero is my mother. She has always inspired and nurtured my curiosity and interests. Her passion for her work has shown me how fulfilling a job can be when you truly care about it, and that motivates me to approach everything I do with the same level of passion.”
2. What excites you the most about STEM?
“STEM excites me because it’s never boring—there’s always a new problem to solve, secrets waiting to be discovered, and innovative ideas to create. The constant challenges and possibilities in STEM make it something I can see myself being immersed in for the rest of my life. To me, that would be a dream come true.”
3. Describe your experience with the ORION STEM camps.
“My experience with ORION STEM camps was incredible. One of my biggest takeaways was understanding just how vast the world of technology is and realizing that we’re only beginning to tap into its full potential. The camps were filled with passionate lecturers, and it was exciting to dive into fields I love, guided by experts.
Both the Off in the Clouds and Pi Day STEM camps offered something unique. What I enjoyed most was the hands-on aspect, whether we were building a drone or coding. The group presentations allowed us to creatively showcase what we learned, adding our own personal touches to each project. It felt amazing to merge my passion for technology with what I learned, and those experiences will stay with me.”
4. What was it like going into the AFRL Challenge Competition?
“I was pretty nervous! Normally, each team has two members, but my partner had to cancel just days before the competition. Still, I was determined to give it my all because I’m passionate about the fields involved in the challenge. Even though I was anxious, I knew I had to focus and give my best effort.”
5. Describe your experience with the AFRL Challenge Competition.
“It was unlike anything I’ve ever done before. I had the opportunity to listen to experts in fields that I’m deeply interested in—fields that are helping shape my decisions about college and my career. The challenge itself involved hours of problem-solving, which I loved. There was never a dull moment. I spent an entire week learning about things that I love, from Machine Learning to coding, and then got to apply that knowledge in a practical way. It was incredibly fulfilling.”
6. What did you take away from the AFRL Challenge Competition?
“My main takeaway was understanding the importance of Feature Engineering in Machine Learning models. It’s a method I used without fully realizing it, and it ended up being a key factor in my success. I also learned about common challenges that Machine Learning models face and how to overcome them. One concept that really stuck with me was the idea of ‘hot codes’—a way models classify objects. For example, if you have three lights, only one light can be on at a time, and each light corresponds to one answer. Learning all of this was fascinating, and it’s knowledge I’ll carry forward.”
7. What was your reaction when you found out you won the AFRL Challenge Competition?
“I was completely surprised! I had hoped for the best and was happy with the work I put in, but I never imagined I’d actually win. It was definitely a moment of disbelief followed by excitement.”
8. What are your aspirations for the future?
“I hope to attend Northwestern University and triple major in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering, Physics, and Computer Science. After that, I want to pursue a Master’s and PhD at MIT in Aerospace Engineering. My ultimate dream is to design spacecraft and satellites.”
9. What advice do you have for younger students interested in STEM?
“My advice is to find what specifically excites you about STEM and use that as your motivation to explore, learn, and grow. For me, it was a fascination with space—I knew by the third grade that I wanted to work in aerospace. That passion has driven me to go above and beyond in learning about space, engineering, and related fields. I believe passion is one of the greatest tools in any engineer’s toolkit.”
10. If you could travel to any time period, where would you go?
“I’d love to travel back to Isaac Newton’s time. He contributed so much to our understanding of the world, but his known accomplishments are only about one-third of his total writings. The other two-thirds remain a mystery, and I’d love to know what else he discovered. Newton revolutionized so many fields, and I’m sure spending a day with him would blow my mind!”
Congratulations, Declan!
We’re incredibly proud of Declan’s achievements and can’t wait to see where his journey takes him. If you’re interested in pursuing your passion for STEM like Declan, check out our upcoming workshops, events, and STEM camps at orionassured.com/events!