Ten Youngsters Work On Everything From Wiring To Geography

Allen Wong, a senior at Highland High School in Palmdale, wants to study electrical engineering in college. This summer he is examining the flow of electricity at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base.

Wong is updating a 2002 facility electricity study completed by his mentor, Dryden facility electrical engineer Jon Ferrall. Wong is often seen in search of electrical panels, with blueprints and clipboard in hand.

"I watched the Apollo 13 movie and noticed that mission control was really, really busy," said Wong. "It is not only the space part of NASA that is busy. Everyone at Dryden works hard and attempts to solve problems no matter how big or small. I am honored, as a high school student, to witness this dedication."

Wong is one of 10 students participating in NASA Dryden's Summer High School Apprenticeship Research Program (SHARP). Representing eight Antelope Valley and East Kern area high schools, the apprenticeship is an eight-week, research-based mentoring program designed for students who excel in engineering, geography, mathematics, science and technology.

Leighna Baxter, of Quartz Hill High School, is writing a process for technicians who service desktop computers at the center. She hopes to combine her interest in chemistry with computers. Baxter and the other interns were given a guided tour of the U.S. Borax Inc. mine and a briefing on the chemical properties of borax that she found fascinating.

Alexandra Guzman, a senior at Paraclete High in Lancaster, is working alongside Baxter. She too sees computers in her future.

Also interning this summer are Antelope Valley High seniors Laura Bookman and Felicia Kaltz, Lancaster High students Alan Tepe and Benjamin Coleman-Levy, Elliot Mork of Mojave High School, and Rebecca Hicks and Ronalynn Ramos of Desert High School at Edwards Air Force Base.

Some 370 exceptional high school students are participating in this summer's apprenticeship research program at NASA centers and host universities across the nation (2002 participants shown above). These high-achieving students were selected from a nationwide pool of more than 2,909 applicants. Some of NASA's top professionals are mentoring their students, who earn a salary for their services.

FMI: http://education.nasa.gov/nasasharp