CLEVELAND — NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is empowering students to consider pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields during the 2012-2013 academic year. Students with STEM proficiencies will have a greater choice of exciting career options in the future.

Glenn is offering two career awareness projects for students to choose from: Exploring and Shadowing.

The Exploring Project is a collaborative effort between Glenn’s Educational Programs Office and the Boy Scouts of America. Its primary goal is to expose students to different career choices in STEM with NASA.

The Exploring Project features five career activity groups: aeronautics, where students will explore aeronautics and propulsion concepts by building, testing and flying models; computer technology, where students gain experience in fields such as animation, robotics, graphics, game programming and Web development; balloon satellite technology, where students collaboratively design experiments for a springtime high-altitude balloon flight; human space flight, where students participate in a variety of hands-on activities while learning the fundamentals of rocketry, power systems, robotics and GPS Orienteering; and eXtreme green, where students will be engaged in conducting biofuel, biomass and alternative energy optimization experiments, participate in roundtable discussions, as well as analyze eXtreme data that will be used in a world-class laboratory.

Each activity group is held once a week after school, from October to April. Students ages 14 through 20 years of age are eligible to apply. There is a $25 fee for each project. Applications are due Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012.

High school students who are at least 16 years of age, from across the U.S., may apply for the Shadowing Project and juniors and seniors may choose to spend up to five days at Glenn exploring STEM careers with a NASA scientist, engineer, technician or administrative professional while learning what personal and professional skills are needed to be successful.

Students are provided with information about various careers, career paths and Glenn’s educational resources and programs.

The Shadowing Project sessions and application due dates are:

Session I – Dec. 4, 2012; applications are due Nov. 2, 2012

Session II – Feb. 27, 2013; applications are due Jan. 25, 2013

Session III – March 26, 2013; applications are due Feb. 22, 2013

Session IV – April 24, 2013; applications are due Feb. 22, 2013

These projects provide exposure to research and technology activities specific to Glenn and are designed to promote students’ interest in STEM fields.

NASA uses the excitement of its missions and programs to inspire students and serve as a catalyst for encouraging STEM studies. The agency continues its tradition of investing in the nation’s education programs and supporting the country’s educators who play a key role in preparing and inspiring the young minds of today to become the workforce of tomorrow.

To learn more about NASA’s Exploring Project and to apply, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/education/NASAExplorers_GRC.html

For additional information about NASA’s Shadowing Project and to apply, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/education/ShadowingProgram_GRC.html

To learn more about Glenn’s educational programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/education/index.html