NASA’s Office of Education Minority University Research and Education Program selected a consortium of three organizations to administer its Motivating Undergraduates in Science and Technology Project: the Hispanic College Fund, the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation, and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.

The project is directly tied to the agency’s major education goal of strengthening NASA’s and the nation’s workforce. Through this and NASA’s other college and university programs, the agency will identify and develop the critical skills and capabilities needed to achieve future missions. The maximum annual value of this award is $1.75 million, with a total possible performance period of three years.

The project will offer one-year competitive scholarships to freshmen, sophomores and juniors to provide up to one-half of tuition and fees, not to exceed $10,000 per academic year. It also provides a stipend to participate in an internship. The project will assist participants in establishing mentoring relationships and provide tutoring to help support the academic programs.

“NASA’s Office of Education is excited about providing opportunities that inspire, engage, educate, and employ our nation’s next generation of explorers and innovators. We look forward to this partnership between NASA and the consortium,” said NASA’s acting Assistant Administrator for Education John Hairston.

The project is focused on engaging students from underserved and underrepresented groups to enter science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students who major in fields related to NASA’s science and technology interests could be eligible to receive support from the project. For information about NASA’s education programs, visit:

http://www.education.nasa.gov

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/home