The Virginia AeroSpace Business Association (VASBA) is strongly committed to developing the next generation of Aerospace professionals in the Commonwealth. With so many aerospace companies in Virginia, it is paramount that the Commonwealth grow it's own skilled workforce to meet current and future needs. Our approach is to support technicians and engineers that are going to be needed to keep Virginia viable in the future aerospace arena. Competition for high tech aerospace industry growth will be largely dependent upon Virginia's ability to provide the highly skilled technicians and engineers to support that growth. We believe education is a necessary fixture to grow that skilled workforce and in support of that notion, VASBA is supporting a number of colleges and universities.
Those institutions include:
VASBA also supports STEM education to encourage our youth to participate and discover aerospace and the excitement and opportunities it represents. We live in an exciting time for the aerospace industry and the Commonwealth needs to be actively positioning itself for the future. STEM can help develop that excitement and VASBA offers sponsorship opportunities to organizations that promote that excitement for our young people. The future is now, and we need to make sure that Virginia is ready for that future.
Virginia Space Flight Academy, Wallops Island
Virginia Space Flight Academy is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to offer innovative learning experiences that inspire and enhance young people's interest in science, technology, engineering, and math and related career opportunities.
https://vaspaceflightacademy.org/
Menchville High School Triple Helix Robotics Team
A consistent leader in advocating for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in the region of Hampton Roads, Virginia, Triple Helix seeks to spread understanding and appreciation for STEM disciplines within our community by a) building both life skills and world-class competition robots, b) engaging in iterative and collaborative learning, and c) exemplifying gracious professionalism.
Engineering for Kids
Children have a natural curiosity that lends itself to science, technology, math, and engineering. At Engineering For Kids, we inspire kids ages 4 to 14 to build on their innate desire for answers by exploring engineering concepts in a fun, hands-on way. We offer afterschool programs, evening classes, camps, birthday parties, and special events designed to present kids with challenging yet accessible engineering activities from which they can learn and grow.
https://www.engineeringforkids.com/
Denbigh High School Aviation Academy
Denbigh High School's Aviation Academy is a nationally recognized STEM site with a focus on piloting, aircraft maintenance, engineering, computers and electronics. Our mission is to provide a quality education that will maximize the potential of every student by providing them with the knowledge, skillsets, experiences and values needed in the 21st Century workplace.
Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS)
The Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) program is an interactive on-line science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning experience, highlighted by a seven-day residential summer academy at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. Students selected to participate in the program are immersed in NASA-related research through interaction with scientists, engineers and technologists. The program is a partnership between the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, NASA Langley Research Center, The Commonwealth of Virginia and Industry.
http://www.VASTS.spacegrant.org
Virginia Earth System Science Scholars (VESSS)
The Virginia Earth System Science Scholars (VESSS) program is an interactive on-line science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning experience for Virginia high school juniors and seniors, highlighted by a seven-day residential summer academy at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Students selected to participate in the program are immersed in NASA-related research through interaction with scientists, engineers and technologists. The program is a partnership between the Virginia Space Grant Consortium and NASA Langley Research Center.
Cubes in Space™
idoodlEDU, inc, the Colorado Space Grant Consortium, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center - Wallops Flight Facility, and NASA's Langley Research Center are offering a free science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics, (STEAM)-focused program for students 11-18 years of age. Cubes in Space™ provides students an opportunity to design and compete to launch an experiment into space. Student-designed experiments are launched via sounding rocket from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia, or from a high altitude scientific balloon by NASA's Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Ft. Sumner, New Mexico.
Eastside High School ThinSat Program
Virginia Space, in partnership with Twiggs Space Lab, NearSpace Launch (NSL), Northrop Grumman, and NASA Wallops Flight Facility, has created a low-cost, short-term program to increase student engagement and interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related fields. Through the use of ThinSats, a small satellite capable of transmitting data from Extreme Low Earth Orbit (ELEO), students from middle school to the university level can assist and develop satellite hardware, test sensor components with low and high-altitude balloon flights, analyze data, and launch an actual payload into space.
https://www.vaspace.org/index.php/thinsat-program
Virginia Children's Engineering Council (VCEC)
Promotes design, engineering, and technology in elementary schools. Provide in-service workshops for PreK-5 teachers and administrators. Sponsor award recognition programs for teachers and schools across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
https://childrensengineering.org/
New Horizons Governor's School for Science & Technology
The Governor's School provides a cohesive, innovative science and mathematics program which:
The Purpose of the GSST is to provide gifted high school students academic opportunities beyond those normally available in their home schools
New Horizons NASA Knights Robotics Team
With the help of NASA Langley Researcher Center, the NASA Knights team has participated in competitions for many years. The teams have about 50 students from schools all over Hampton Roads, including homeschooled students. They gather in the new robotics lab at New Horizons Regional Education Center in Hampton, spending their after-school hours, building, testing and programming as well as having fun and learning a lot. NASA employees and retirees also help by mentoring the students and volunteering at the tournament.
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/multimedia/iotw-first2010.html#.YGoA1ehKiUk
