What's Happening in Bellevue, WA…

Officials have announced their picks for Washington Aerospace Scholars, and 12 Bellevue students were on the list.

The students will each participate in one of four summer residencies. The Museum of Flight offers the program to provide students with hands-on experience of STEM subjects as they relate to the aerospace industry. STEM is an acronym meaning ‘science, technology, engineering, and math’.

The 160 students, who were selected from 308 applicants, earned their place by completing and excelling in a five-month online course. Designing the program was a joint action of NASA and the staff of the University of Washington. In addition to perhaps winning a residency, applicants who completed the curriculum were able to earn five college credits.

Our local budding rocket scientists come from Bellevue High School (which provided six students), Interlake High School (two), Newport High School (three), and Sammamish High School (one).

Some of the activities the students will engage in include designing a manned Mars mission with the advisement of scientists, engineers, educators, and university students. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to tour the UW engineering labs and the Boeing Commercial Airplane assembly plant, as well as attending aerospace briefings.

This summer will be the eighth year that the Washington Aerospace Scholars program provides their all expenses paid residencies for students. To have 12 students chosen in one year provides the city of Bellevue with bragging rights that it might want a printing company to include in promotional materials.