Paradise Valley Unified School District announced on May 13 that Aira Guntuppally, a fifth-grade student at Sonoran Sky Elementary School, is the winner of the district’s 2026 Mission Patch Design Contest. The contest was held as part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program, hosted by Honeywell Aerospace.
The initiative aims to encourage interest in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) among students by involving them in authentic research experiences. By designing mission patches—a tradition dating back to the 1960s—students are given an opportunity to focus on creativity within STEAM education.
Earlier this month, district leaders joined families and Honeywell representatives for an event unveiling Guntuppally’s winning patch design. Kaitlyn Mackin from Pinnacle High School adapted the original artwork into a final graphic that will be featured on official patches worn by the Mission 21 crew during their journey to the International Space Station aboard Discovery in August 2026.
Paradise Valley Unified School District also congratulated members of Paradise Valley High School’s CREST research team: Victor Gomez (team lead), Vedika Kashyap (team lead), Nikhil Karandikar, Sukrant Vaddi, and Kyle Vo. Their experiment will be conducted in zero gravity on the International Space Station this summer and served as inspiration for this year’s patch design.
Paradise Valley Unified School District promotes anti-racism, equity, and inclusion in its policies and practices; focuses on engaging students through quality instruction; operates under a board of school trustees; serves the Paradise Valley area in Arizona; offers community learning centers and magnet programs; and specializes in public schooling according to the official website.
District officials said they are proud to support STEAM initiatives that provide transformative opportunities for students throughout PVSchools.
