By Jeff Wentworth
Guest Commentary

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched this year’s High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) program, which offers Texas high school juniors the opportunity to participate in NASA’s space exploration plan.

This is the program’s 10th year, and I am pleased that each preceding year students from high schools in Senate District 25 have participated in the Web-based program and traveled to the John-son Space Center (JSC) in Houston during the summer.

HAS offers high school juniors the chance to utilize their math and science skills while completing 10 Web-based assignments during the school year.  Then, during the summer, these selected students will travel to Houston where they will work with space center engineers and scientists.

The Web-based activities include space-related studies focusing on the space shuttle, space station, lunar and Mars exploration.  Students will be able to link their computers to virtual reality models, interactive tutorials, videos and 3-D graphics. They also will communicate through email and online conversations with NASA engineers.

During the six-day residential experience at JSC, students will receive engineer, scientist and astronaut briefings, tour the facilities, and participate in hands-on engineering projects and activities.

To learn more about the program, visit the Texas Aerospace Scholars Web site at http://aerospacescholars. jsc.nasa.gov.  Interested students may also e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (281) 483-4112.

Applications may be completed online and submitted directly to JSC. Students must be United States citizens, Texas residents and currently juniors in high school.  They should have an interest in science, math or engineering and be able to commit to a relationship with JSC, including a one-week residential experience during the summer. To qualify, students must have access to the Internet and to email either at home, school or in a public library.

HAS is available to students at no cost. The state of Texas, in partnership with JSC and the Texas educational community, developed the program in 1999 to encourage more students to pursue studies and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.  Additional partners include the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the University of Houston System and Rotary NASA.

More than 2,000 Texas students have participated in the program since its inception.  Students interested in participating are nominated by their state legislators; however, applications are sent directly to JSC.

This year, the deadline for applying is Nov. 14. The applications will be forwarded to students’ legislators by JSC; we have the option to either rank the nominees or return them to NASA unranked.

Students who successfully complete the program may receive a science elective credit toward graduation as approved by the Texas Education Agency.

I encourage students to apply for the opportunity to explore the heavens without leaving Texas. 

Texas State Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) represents District 25, which includes part of Bexar County. He can be reached via e-mail at jeff.wentworth@senate. state. tx.us.