Bellevue students getting out-of-this-world experience | Summer program at Museum of Flight offers students chance to study curriculum designed by NASA

Danielle Niemann has always been fascinated with space. She marvels at the differences between Earth and other planets. She analyzes the challenges – anticipated and unthought of – that astronauts face when traveling to space. And she has a passion for the technology that makes it all happen. So when she got the opportunity to combine all her out-of-this-world dreams in one summer program, she seized it, even if it meant studying NASA-designed, online curriculum.

By Mary Jean Spadafora • June 29, 2012 2:06 pm
Steven Lusby
Steven Lusby

Danielle Niemann has always been fascinated with space. She marvels at the differences between Earth and other planets. She analyzes the challenges – anticipated and unthought of – that astronauts face when traveling to space. And she has a passion for the technology that makes it all happen.

So when she got the opportunity to combine all her out-of-this-world dreams in one summer program, she seized it, even if it meant studying NASA-designed, online curriculum.

“Adding on more stuff was really hard and added up to late nights,” Danielle said, who also is a student in the international baccalaureate program at Interlake High School.

Over the course of five months, she studied eight lessons with required reading, quizzes, math problems and essays. In addition, she did research and a final project.

All her hard work paid off.

Danielle was selected as one of 12 Bellevue School District students to participate in the 2012 Washington Aerospace Scholars program. The Bellevue students will participate in one of four, week-long educational events to promote careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at the Boeing Museum of Flight in June and July.

Of the more than 290 students who submitted a application for the program in November, about 160 qualified to begin phase one, which required students to study NASA curriculum for five months.

Students were notified in May, based on their academic performance in phase one, whether they were accepted to participate in the interactive phase two.

During the summer residency programs, students will gain a familiarity with mission management, budgets, legal aspects of space exploration and medicine.

Students will also watch presentations from experts in the sciences and technology, including Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar, a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a former astronaut.

Hands-on engineering challenges, such as planning a mission to Mars, also will be completed in the 6-day stint.

“Mars gets them hooked,” said Melissa Edwards, director of WAS. “Traveling to another planet is inspiring for any student and makes them think about what the future holds. The reality for this generation is that they very likely could be involved in a Mars expedition.”

Founded in 2006, Washington Aerospace Scholars Foundation has provided more than 1,400 high school juniors with an opportunity to learn from leading figures in science and technology fields. Funding for the program comes from The Boeing Company, Microsoft, The Washington Space Grant Consortium and other large – and individual – donors.

And the program is proving to be successful. WAS reports more than 70 percent of the 2007 scholar program graduates – the first group to participate in the program – pursued college degrees in science, technology, engineering or math. In addition more than 50 percent of scholars who graduated college are now engineers.

“It proves we’ve inspired students and given them the skills and knowledge needed to go into college,” Edwards said. “We’ve given them the confidence they can do it.”

Danielle, who is participating in the June 24-29 session, will apply for college this fall and hopes WAS will give her a clearer idea of what scientists, engineers and aeronautical professionals are working on today, for the future.

“I really like science so I want to see about how it relates to space and the real life applications,” she said. “Hopefully, [WAS] will give me a more clear idea on what they’re doing here.”

Other Bellevue students in the program are: Grant Hilfinger, Bellevue High School; Sarah Brown, Interlake High School; Isaku Kamada, Interlake High School; Tyler Okamoto, Interlake High School; Kayla Miller, Interlake High School; Erik Dekker, Newport High School; Steven Lusby, Newport High School; Andrew Nguyen, Newport High School; Avinash Ram, Newport High School; Emily Zhang, Newport High School; and Lauren Brening, Sammamish High School.

WAS will accept applications for students and teachers for the 2012-13 program cycle in September. To learn more or download the application, visit www.museumofflight.org/was.

 

Mary Jean Spadafora: 425-453-4270, ext. 28-5058;

mspadafora@bellevuereporter.com