PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles High School student Madison Kuss has qualified for two prestigious science and technology summer programs.
Kuss, who will be a junior this fall, was among 160 students selected for the Washington Aerospace Scholars program.
Madison, 16, is the daughter of Lorrie and Jeff Kuss of Port Angeles.
“I’m interested in aerospace, but I’m not sure which program — either aerodynamics or electronics,” she said.
Kuss competed with 285 other incoming juniors for a spot in the summer program, studying using online lessons developed by NASA and the University of Washington.
The program is a six-day residential summer camp at Seattle’s Museum of Flight, where she and the other students will study under industry experts, including astronauts.
The program includes a Mission to Mars team project; engineering activities involving model rockets, robotic rovers, landers and payload lofting; briefings by astronauts, engineers, scientists and aerospace experts; and tours of various engineering facilities.
Expenses are paid by the WAS Foundation.
Kuss also was accepted into the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology “Operation Catapult” summer program in Terre Haute, Ind.
Rose-Hulman does not offer scholarships for this program, so Kuss must raise about $3,000 to cover tuition and travel to and from Indiana before the end of June, she said.
Donations can be made to any US Bank location, under the account name “Madison Kuss.”
“This is the fifth year Port Angeles High School students have participated in the Washington Aerospace Scholars program,” said science instructor John Gallagher.
Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
