Embassy Events

Santa Cruz Student Awarded International Space School Foundation Scholarship

Andrea Justiniano Núñez, high school student from Santa Cruz was awarded a NASA scholarship.

Andrea Justiniano Núñez, a high school student at Madre Vicente Uboldi School in Santa Cruz won a scholarship offered by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to attend an educational program in Houston, Texas, USA. Also, another Bolivian student, Fabricio Dante Bermúdez from Oruro, was awarded a scholarship this year.

The International Space School Foundation works to make these scholarships possible so that deserving high school students from all over the world have a chance to engage in space-related academic courses and receive encouragement to consider a career in the aeronautical and space industry.

The candidates are selected for their exceptional performance in chemistry, math, physics, and psychology. Also, the candidates are required to have knowledge of the English language; they have to be engaged in extracurricular activities, and must be able to represent Bolivia.

The foundation offers an opportunity for international students to participate in several space project initiatives, such as contributing to the development of the Mission to Mars Project. It also provides them with specialized teaching by experts and managers of the air and space sector. The young participants also engage in teamwork in a multicultural environment. Approximately 250 students from all over the world, representing 48 countries, have already participated in this exciting program. After completing the course, the students go back to their countries and share their experiences with families, friends, classmates, and communities.

The students will spend most of their time in Bay Area, Houston, where the Space Flight Center and the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) are located. JSC is home to the NASA astronaut corps and is responsible for training space explorers from the United States and other space station partner nations. It is also the space shuttle’s base and the headquarters of the International Space Station’s programs. Additionally, the students will visit the University of Houston-Clear Lake, the George Observatory, and the Space Center Houston.