HOUSTON, Texas – Several Forney High School students were recently notified that they had been selected to the NASA High School Aerospace Scholars Program. Three of the students completed the program and one was selected to attend a six-day NASA Johnson Space Center residency program.
HOUSTON, Texas – Several Forney High School students were recently notified that they had been selected to the NASA High School Aerospace Scholars Program. Three of the students completed the program and one was selected to attend a six-day NASA Johnson Space Center residency program.
The students that were accepted into the NASA High School Scholars Program were Zachary Chavez, Taylor Craft, Jason Dover, Sterling Foster, Sean Goodman and Abbey Polzin. Craft, Foster and Polzin successfully completed the program and Craft was selected from his entry into the six-day residential program.
The NASA High School Scholars Program includes three levels. Level 1 is the acceptance level that includes an application process involving writing essays to NASA, a letter to the students’ State Representative, references and meeting specific GPA requirements.
Level 2 involves completing the program. Once the students are accepted, they must complete a rigorous online course during the spring semester with scientists and engineers from NASA. The web-based activities include space science studies in orbital mechanics, space shuttle, space station, lunar and Mars exploration; virtual reality models, interactive tutorials and 3-D graphics and online conversations with NASA scientists and engineers.
Students that advanced through the first two levels and were accepted into Level 3 of the program will travel to NASA Johnson Space Center for a six-day residential summer experience. Students that were selected to the Level 3 program will participate in engineer, scientist and astronaut briefings; tour the Johnson Space Center facilities; work on team projects and complete hands-on engineering activities. NASA's partnership with the State of Texas, the Rotary NASA and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo pay all of the expenses for the students.
Craft’s selection into Level 3 of the program provides him the opportunity to work with NASA engineers and officials. He will participate in the NASA High School Aerospace Scholars six-day program at the Johnson Space Center this summer.
The offer to apply to the NASA program comes through Texas Representative Lance Gooden’s office to the school. The students write Representative Gooden a letter explaining their goals and interest in participating in the NASA program. Representative Gooden then recommends the students he selects to NASA.
For more information about the Forney Independent School District, contact Larry Coker, Director of Communications at larry.coker@forneyisd.net or by phone at 972-564-4055.
