Sixth-form students in the Isle of Man have a chance to win a place at the NASA United Space School in Houston, Texas this summer.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the first ManSat scholarship to the Space School and the competition is once again open to Year 12 students from the Island’s high schools.
The scholarships, supported by the Department of Education and Children, cover tuition, travel and accommodation.
There are two places available at the Space School, which will run from 26th July to 10th August 2015. To enter, students have to write essays on three topics, with the closing date for entries on Monday, 2nd February.
Ian Jarritt, Chief Financial Officer at ManSat, has visited each of the Island’s high schools to speak to Year 12 students about the competition, and the opportunities that attending the United Space School can bring.
Ian said: ‘There is always a strong interest in the competition from students studying science subjects, but each year we have entries from across the curriculum. It’s a great opportunity for students to travel and meet like-minded young people, and we’ve seen over the years how the friendships formed at the Summer School remain strong, in addition to providing a superb network of contacts.’
The first ManSat scholar to attend the Space School in 2000 was Jennifer Stone, who is now a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Laboratory for Theoretical Astronomy and Astrophysics at Nagoya University in Japan. Two students have been sent each year since 2007. Last year’s scholars were Caitlin Pinder from St Ninian’s High School and Kitto Maddrell from Castle Rushen High School, who joined students from 21 other countries around the world.
Chris Stott, ManSat CEO and Chairman, said: ‘The students we send each year are always wonderful ambassadors and do the Isle of Man proud. It has been fascinating to follow the careers of each of our past scholars, and the opportunities created for them by their time at the United Space School. We are delighted that the Department of Education and Children is continuing the support it provides each year.’
Tim Crookall MHK, Minister for Education, said: ‘This is a wonderful opportunity. Having spoken with past Space School scholars, I would encourage all Year 12 students to enter the competition. The scholarships open up so many contacts and avenues to explore, in addition to being a real enhancement to anyone’s CV.’
In addition to the Space School scholarships, ManSat sponsors and supports the annual Spirit of Innovation competition for Manx high schools, in cooperation with the Pete Conrad Foundation, and last year sponsored the Island’s participation in the UK Rocketry competition in which two Isle of Man High School travelled to the UK after successfully completing the Isle of Man heats. The company also awards an annual ‘ManSat Fellowship’ grant, for Manx students seeking to further their studies in space, and scholarships to programs run by the International Space University in Strasbourg.
For full details of the competition and the scholarships, students should email ijarritt@mansat.com or visit www.mansat.com. For information about the Space School is available from www.unitedspaceschool.org.
Photo - The winners of the 2014 ManSat scholarships to the NASA United Space School were Caitlin Pinder (second left) and Kitto Maddrell (second right). They are pictured with Ben Farnworth (left), a former Ballakermeen High School teacher who now acts as a tutor for the USS, ManSat CEO Chris Stott (third left), astronaut Nicole Stott, and Daniel Sayle, a past Space School scholar who was there last summer as a teaching aid.
