April 6, 2009 Tracy Young Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 tracy.g.young@nasa.gov CONTRACT RELEASE: 16-09 NASA AWARDS EDUCATION GRANTS TO UNIVERSITIES CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA has awarded cooperative education grants to the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico; South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, S.D.; and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va. The grants support implementation of a two-week residential college experience as part of NASA's Interdisciplinary National Science Program Incorporating Research Experience, also known as INSPIRE. The grants feature a one-year basic period of performance with two one-year extension options. The value of the agreement is $50 thousand for each university with a potential total value of $450 thousand for all three grants if options are exercised. The program is designed to encourage high school students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, also known as STEM. It is part of NASA's education strategy to attract and retain students in STEM disciplines. A key component of INSPIRE is an online community where students and parents have the opportunity to interact with NASA engineers, scientists and their peers. Students selected for the online community have the opportunity to compete for unique summer experiences at NASA facilities and various universities throughout the nation. The selected universities will provide students with a residential educational experience that will enhance their knowledge and study of STEM-related fields. For information on NASA's education programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/education -end- To subscribe to the list, send a message to: ksc-subscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov To remove your address from the list, send a message to: ksc-unsubscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov
