For middle school students, the time is now to apply for two scholarships available for Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

State Rep. Jamie Kiel has announced that two middle-school students who live in Alabama House District 18 will receive scholarships to attend a special Space Camp program free of charge. This includes students who live in Colbert and Franklin counties.

“The importance of science, technology, engineering and math cannot be emphasized enough,” said Kiel. “I want to be sure our students in rural Alabama have the same opportunity to attend space camp as other kids in the state.”

Students ages 12-14 may apply for Space Academy for Leading Students in Alabama. One boy and one girl living in House District 18 will receive a scholarship to attend SALSA, which promotes STEM education along with leadership skills.

To be eligible for a SALSA scholarship, students must apply at www.spacecamp.com/salsa or through their school counselor by March 31 at 11:59 p.m. The two students chosen will be notified by the end of the school year, and the camp will take place in July 2023.

Each scholarship includes tuition, room and board for the Space Academy program.

Travel to and from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center is not included.

During their weeklong program, students will learn the history of the space program; learn to work together as a team to solve complex problems using STEM concepts and critical thinking; learn to train like an astronaut using authentic simulators; and embark on their own simulated space mission to the International Space Station, the Moon or Mars.

This life-changing experience inspires students to get engaged in mathematics and science while exposing them to career paths in the aerospace industry and beyond where these STEM and 21st-century learning skills are used.

“I would suggest parents encourage students who are either interested in STEM now, or students who might become interested in STEM due to this camp, to apply immediately,” Kiel said. “This experience might open the eyes of a future scientist, astronaut, doctor or engineer.”