Right: An astronaut joined Dr. Adena Williams Loston during her presentation to students and parents at the AirVenture event in Oshkosh. Photo Credit: NASA/Tom Tschida.

NASA's Associate Administrator for Education, Dr. Adena Williams Loston, spoke at the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture gathering in Oshkosh, Wis., on July 31. AirVenture is the largest aviation event in the world. The Centennial of Flight is this year's theme.

The event, in a special area of the Experimental Aircraft Association campus called KidVenture, gave Dr. Loston an opportunity to talk about NASA's forthcoming Scholarship for Service program that will enable students apply for and receive college tuition in return for service with NASA once they graduate. The scholarship program is pending final Congressional approval.

Dr. Loston told a gathering of adults and children that NASA wants young people "to begin thinking about doing what no one has ever done before." Explaining that NASA needs the bright minds of the next generation of explorers, she engaged Carter, a young boy in the front row, with the possibility of designing a home in outer space. "The goal is that one day the Carters of the world will go to Mars or help NASA go to Mars," Dr. Loston told the crowd.

She gave examples of the over 30,000 discoveries NASA-funded research made possible -- from artificial hip joints to tennis shoes. NASA is extending these discoveries into the classroom, using science to inspire students and teachers alike.

Stay tuned to the NASA website for more information about the Scholarship for Service program.

http://www.nasa.gov

For information about NASA's Education Programs on the Internet, visit:

http://education.nasa.gov/

Left: Dr. Adena Williams Loston encouraged questions from the audience. Photo Credit: NASA/Tom Tschida.