Now in its 10th year, the Washington Aerospace Scholars program is pleased to announce that Sam Bird and Connor Bronson-Doherty of Todd Beamer and Decatur high schools, respectively, are participating in Phase One of the 2015-16 program cycle.

WAS is designed to connect high school juniors with educational and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through independent learning, hands-on interaction, professional guidance and site-based tours.

Bird and Bronson-Doherty applied in fall 2015, along with 266 student applicants from 103 different public, private and homeschool organizations, to participate in Phase One of the WAS Program. They are now among the 173 students still participating in an online distance learning curriculum. Designed by NASA and the University of Washington, the curriculum focuses on the past, present, and future of human space travel. Participating students are able to register to earn five UW Earth Space Science graduation requirement credits.

The top-performing 160 students will be invited to one of four Summer Residency sessions, Phase Two of the WAS program, hosted by the Museum of Flight in June and July. In each summer session, four student teams cooperate to plan a human mission to Mars with support from professional engineers/scientists, university students and certificated educators. Additionally, participants receive briefings from aerospace professionals, tour local engineering facilities, and compete in hands-on engineering challenges.

These students have committed to leading the way to Mars.