Students headed to Space Camp

By Staff
Melissa Cason
Eleven students from Russellville Middle School were selected to receive a scholarship to Space Camp this summer as part of the space program the school participated in during the school year.
Assistant Principal Karen Thorn said the students had to complete a comprehensive application process in order to be selected for the scholarship. The screening process included a patch design – where the student had to design their own original mission patch – science projects and must answer three essay questions about their experience with the Build a Shuttle Program and it's relevance in space missions.
"We are very excited to have 11 students selected to go to the Space Camp this summer," Thorn said. "We feel like this is an honor for our school."
The students who received the scholarships are Hank Forsythe, Cheyenne Smith, Mark Chase Holland, Duncan McDowell, Rachel Mitchell, Eddie Herlong, Austin Martindale, Rebecca Mitchell, Whitni Lasseter and Jose Fiqueroa.
Kelly Hatley, Scholarship Manager for NASA's Space Camp, said there 18 students from Franklin County who applied for the scholarships, noting all 18 were awarded scholarships because there was enough funding to do so.
"The funding for the Space Camp is through a grant from the Regional Appalachian Regional Commission," Hatley said.
NASA originally had funding for 16 slots in Franklin County, but allowed for two more.
Space Camp has been helping to prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers and mathematicians to reach for the stars for over 25 years. Camp has evolved into an internationally known program with nearly one million alumni. The camp, which is based on NASA's astronaut training program, focuses on teamwork and leadership.
"Real-world applications of math, science, and technology are presented as students learn to fly the shuttle, participate in space walks, and build robots," Hatley said.