Beth Schmid
Headquarters, Washington, DC                                      April 27, 1999
(Phone:  202/358-1760)

NOTE TO EDITORS:  N99-25

WINNING STUDENTS TAKE THE PRIZE IN WASHINGTON 

     Forty high school students and their teachers from around the country 
have earned all-expense-paid trips to Washington, DC, this week 
for winning the NASA Student Involvement Program's academic competition.

     The students will present their winning projects on Saturday, May 1, at the 
Hotel Washington, 515 15th St. NW, Washington, DC. All events will be open to the 
press.

     From 10:15 a.m. to noon EDT and 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. EDT, seven regional high 
school winners in each of the three categories --  "Designing a Mission to Mars," 
"Watching Earth Change" and "Aeronautics and Space Science Journalism" -- will 
present their proposals. Immediately afterward, there will be an informal poster 
session, allowing the press to have one-on-one discussions with the students.

     Reporters are welcome to attend the students' presentations in the hotel's 
meeting rooms.  The "Designing a Mission to Mars" winners will be in the 
Washington Room, "Watching Earth Change" winners in the Federal Room and 
"Aeronautics and Space Science Journalism" winners in the Capital Room.

     The competition is designed to increase student literacy in science, 
critical and creative thinking, mathematics and technology.  More than 3,000 
students in elementary, junior high and high school competed.  The competition 
was conducted for NASA by TERC, an educational organization, the Institute of 
Global Environmental Strategies and WT Chen & Company. 

      In addition to presenting their research projects, students will meet with 
their Congressional representatives on Capitol Hill and participate in other 
activities.  

     A complete list of NSIP high school winners and information on other grade 
level participation and awards can be found at the following URL:

http://www.nsip.net

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