Blackstock student, Lluvia Navarro, and her teacher, Mrs. Johnson, shared about their summer Space Camp experience at Monday's Governing Board Meeting. Lluvia and Mrs. Johnson were selected to attend the 2019 Northrop Grumman Foundation Space Camp Program in Huntsville, Alabama. Congratulations to Lluvia and Mrs. Johnson!
Background on the Space Camp Program
Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation are dedicated to expanding and
enhancing sustainable science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education
opportunities for students globally. In 2018, the organizations contributed nearly $20 million
to diverse, STEM-focused organizations and programs. Partnerships focus on engineering
and technology-based initiatives that excite, engage and educate students and provide
professional development opportunities for their teachers, with an emphasis on middle school
and university level programs. Defending cyber networks, engineering autonomous vehicles
and exploring space are some of the capabilities students develop as they experience the
excitement of STEM through programs supported by Northrop Grumman and the Northrop
Grumman Foundation. Initiatives such as the Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers
Academy provide professional development opportunities for STEM teachers, who inspire
students to pursue STEM careers.
To this end, scholarships for educators and students to attend Space Camp are made available
for applicants both in the United States and internationally. Criteria includes an essay
prepared by the principal identifying an outstanding STEM teacher, along with the teacher
identifying a grade 7 or 8 student in a public school who meets the criteria for being a student with the potential to be a high achiever with the right amount of motivation to excel. The student must also display some interest in space and has the social maturity to be away from their home and will be able to interact with others at Space Camp.