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| This image is for representation purpose only. Photo By: Sonja N. Barisic; Posted on Flickr page of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District under CC BY 2.0 License. |
Washington: NASA's Office of Education has entered into a memorandum of
agreement with District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) to help foster
science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) educational opportunities
among high school students with disabilities.
This collaboration is
part of the broader DCPS Competitive Employment Opportunity Program, a
career-focused mentoring program that connects selected high school students
with disabilities to professional mentors in the greater District of Columbia
community. The program provides students with career exploration opportunities,
soft skill training and career goal-setting support, and culminates with a
mentor-supported, career-focused capstone project.
"NASA Education
is committed to using the excitement and appeal of the agency's programs and
missions to encourage students to pursue STEM studies and careers," said
James Stofan, the agency's deputy associate administrator for education program
integration. "We particularly want to encourage students who are
underserved or underrepresented in STEM to explore the many opportunities that
pursuing this course of study can offer. This partnership will help us do just
that."
The initial phase of
this mentorship and collaboration will take place during the first half of next
year. NASA will invite some participants to a summer internship with the agency
in 2013.