For Rory Brown, the world isn’t limited by what’s in front of her—it extends into the vast unknown of space, the complex rhythms of music, and the deep satisfaction of solving difficult problems. A senior at Byron High School, Rory has spent her time balancing two seemingly different passions: STEM and the arts. While her heart belongs to aerospace engineering, her soul thrives in music, creating a blend of logic and creativity that defines who she is.

Her dream is to work at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, designing the next generation of space exploration technology. She has already been accepted into the University of Minnesota Twin Cities for aerospace engineering, but wherever she goes, she plans to continue playing in the marching band, keeping music as a steady presence in her life.

“I see music as a break from all the hard, difficult stuff I love to do,” she said. “Even though I enjoy the challenge of math and science, music lets me be creative in a different way.”

Rory’s fascination with space wasn’t inspired by a single moment—it was something that grew over time. Her dad loved talking about space, and together, they watched movies and explored documentaries that deepened her interest. “I always knew I liked space, but when I found out you could actually work on space technology without being an astronaut, I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” she said.

Her high school coursework reflected that drive. She excelled in physics and engineering, taking the most challenging math and science courses Byron had to offer. In middle school, she was given the opportunity to move up a level in math, thanks to a teacher who recognized her ability. That early boost set her on a path that put her ahead in STEM throughout high school.

One of her biggest influences was Mrs. Ludwig, her fourth-grade teacher, who helped her believe in herself and her abilities.

“She was the first teacher to tell me that I could do more than I thought I could,” Rory said. “She made learning exciting and pushed me to go further.”

Other teachers, like Mr. Wolf in middle school math and Mrs. Prusator in science, continued that encouragement. Their support helped her find her passion for problem-solving, engineering, and deep scientific exploration.

While Rory has dedicated much of her time to STEM, music has been an equally important part of her life. She plays flute and piccolo in Byron’s symphonic band and picks up percussion when needed. Her musical journey began in sixth grade, when she auditioned for instruments and immediately gravitated toward the flute. By sophomore year, she added piccolo, and by junior year, she even joined the drumline as a bass drummer.

“I just picked up the piccolo one day and started playing,” she said. “Mrs. Haas looked at me and said, ‘Alright, you’re our new piccolo player.’ That was that.”

One of her most unforgettable experiences was marching through Magic Kingdom in Disney World with the Byron band.

“We didn’t just perform—we got to experience the parks, too,” Rory said. “We went to Universal, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios—it was incredible.”

Her involvement in United Sound, a program that helps special needs students learn to play instruments, has also been a highlight of her high school career. As president of United Sound for three years, she has worked closely with her peers to teach music in a way that’s accessible and fun.

“It’s amazing to see how excited they get when they start learning an instrument,” Rory said. “It’s one of my favorite things I’ve been a part of.”

In addition to music and STEM, Rory is a competitor at heart. She has been active in Scholastic Bowl and ACES (Academic Challenge in Engineering and Science), where she focuses on physics and engineering graphics.

Scholastic Bowl, which operates like a fast-paced, team-based Jeopardy!, has sharpened her ability to think quickly and trust her instincts. “If you have even a 50% idea of the answer, sometimes it’s better to buzz in and take a shot than to say nothing at all,” she explained. Her strategy has paid off, and she has loved the camaraderie of competing with friends who share her love for learning.

With graduation just around the corner, Rory knows she won’t be staying in Byron forever. But no matter where she ends up, Byron will always be part of her journey. The teachers, the band, the academic competitions—all of it helped her grow into the student, musician, and future aerospace engineer she is today. “My plan is to work as hard as I can to get where I need to be,” she said.

That drive, combined with her passion for learning and her love for both science and music, ensures that wherever she goes, Rory Brown will reach for the stars—literally.