NASA space camp scholarship offered to children of military

by Cicely McCray
Joint Base Charleston School Liaison Officer

NASA Space Camp is a place of learning where children come together for a journey they will never forget. For many, it is a life-changing event – helping them make decisions about their educational and vocational careers. This extraordinary adventure teaches our youth about astronauts and space travel and so much more. They learn leadership and they develop bonds of friendship that can last a lifetime.

The Military Child Education Coalition has created a Space Camp scholarship program in memory of one of America’s bright young military children, Bernard Curtis Brown II. Bernard was the 11 year-old son of Chief Petty Officer and Mrs. Bernard Curtis Brown, who died tragically Sept. 11, 2001, when the hijacked airliner on which he was a passenger crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. At the time, Bernard was on his way to California to represent his school at a National Geographic event.

Bernard’s parents agreed to allow the MCEC to honor Bernard’s memory with this scholarship to provide other military-connected children with the opportunity to experience the worlds of science and learning and share their experiences of service to the nation as proud members of Military Families.

Space Camp is a five-day program that shows youngsters to experience first-hand what it takes to be an astronaut. Activities include simulated Space Shuttle missions, training simulators, rocket building and launches, scientific experiments and lectures on the past, present, and future of space exploration.

There are three Space Camp locations: Huntsville, Ala.; Mountain View, Calif.; and Titusville, Fla. Tuition ranges from $550 to $875 and includes meals, lodging and program materials, but not transportation.

The Military Child Education Coalition is now accepting applications for the Bernard Curtis Brown II Memorial Space Camp Scholarship. The scholarship covers full tuition including round trip transportation from the student’s home base to Space Camp, meals, lodging and program materials. Student applicants must be:

. The child of a military member on active duty or mobilized Guard or Reserve.
. The child of a military member who died while on active duty or mobilized Guard or Reserve.
. Enrolled in grades six through nine.

Applications are available online at www.militarychild.org/child-student/space-camp-scholarship/. For more information about Space Camp, go to www.spacecamp.com.