The Aerospace Corporation Celebrates 30th Anniversary
of Herndon Science Competition
Related: Briar Wood High Senior Top Essayist in Science Competition (6/5/07)
Related: Palos Verdes High Team Takes Top Prize in Science Competition (6/7/07)
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (5/31/07) — The Aerospace Corporation, a leader in national space programs, will hold its 30th annual Robert H. Herndon Memorial Science Competition at its headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., on Thursday, June 7.
Paid summer positions are being offered as a prize for high school students who win first place in the popular science fair, meant to stimulate interest among minority students in science, engineering, and technology, and increase diversity across the aerospace industry.
The competition, held continuously since 1977, was named for an inspirational Aerospace scientist and mentor who died in 1976.
Students from 13 Los Angeles area schools are scheduled to participate this year by demonstrating their experiments and presenting essays. Up to seven summer jobs will be awarded, along with savings bonds.
“We are pleased to host this exciting event again this year,” said Dr. William F. Ballhaus Jr., president and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation. “This competition is one way to get students interested in science and technology. And it might launch some of them into aerospace careers at a time when the nation desperately needs new engineers and scientists.”
Event chair Terita Norton, an electrical engineer at Aerospace, said summer positions have been awarded to 35 students since 2000 when the practice of offering internships as a prize for competitors was initiated. She said three interns later were hired as full-time employees and are currently working at the company.
Norton said engineers and scientists from Aerospace have been working with students for the past six months to help them prepare for this year’s competition, assisting them in developing their projects and writing essays. The judges for the event include executives and engineers from The Aerospace Corporation and U.S. Air Force officers from the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base.
Members of the winning team in the high school experiments competition, as well as the top high school essayist, will qualify for the summer positions providing they are at least 16 years old at the time of the competition and complete the job screening process required of those who work at The Aerospace Corporation’s secure facilities.
Team members who place first in the high school experiments competition also will receive $1,000 U.S. savings bonds, while members of the second- and third-place teams will receive $500 and $200 savings bonds. Middle school experiments competitors are also eligible for $1,000, $500 and $200 savings bonds. Essayists in both the high school and middle school categories will compete for $500 and $250 savings bonds.
High schools participating this year are BANNING, DORSEY, GARDENA, INGLEWOOD, JUNIPERO SERRA, PALOS VERDES, PALOS VERDES PENINSULA, and VAN NUYS. Middle schools include CALLE MAYOR, FRANK D. PARENT, JOHN MUIR, and MONROE. Also participating is A-MAN, Inc., Science Academy, which is sponsoring teams in both the high school and middle school categories of competition.
The Aerospace Corporation is an independent, nonprofit company that provides objective technical analyses and assessments for defense department space programs and other space programs in the national interest.
Media contact Dave Jonta at 310-336-5041 or david.l.jonta@aero.org.
