For Immediate Release:   August 24, 2011

MIHS Academy Students to Contact Astronauts on Board ISS

MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA – Merritt Island High School students in the da Vinci Academy of Aerospace Technology will make contact with the astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) on Aug. 30 at 2:04 p.m. via ham radio technology at the MIHS baseball field.  Various dignitaries, academy advisors, school administrators, faculty and students involved in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) coursework will be on hand. The contact will last 12 minutes and be made by selected Academy students. The entire Brevard community, along with the world, is invited to witness this event through webcast.  Visit the MIHS website at http://merritt.hs.brevard.k12.fl.us/ on Aug. 30 for details and links.

            The MIHS da Vinci Academy of Aerospace Technology opened its doors in the Fall of 2009. The Academy is a collaborative effort between Brevard Public Schools, the aerospace technology/engineering industry and the “Project Lead the Way” curriculum. Academy students have the opportunity to learn about careers in engineering and aerospace technology in addition to math/science specialties. Academy courses, projects, field trips, guest speakers and industry mentors prepare da Vinci students to enter the industry at the professional level. This school year marks the graduation of the first da Vinci class.

The da Vinci Academy of Aerospace Technology holds national certification with Project Lead the Way for its comprehensive, college-level engineering curriculum taught in conjunction with hands-on projects such as the ISS Contact. “The da Vinci students at MIHS are our future in engineering and space states Adrian Laffitte, Director of Florida Government Relations and Chair of the da Vinci Academy advisory committee. “Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, USA, ULA, NASA, Craig Technologies, MI Airport, Florida Tech, Embry Riddle and UCF invest their time and share their expertise to help these Academy students achieve their goals in STEM related careers.”

Janice Cheshire, Academy Director, gave a big thank you to Dave Jordan, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) coordinator, and John Eccles, ham radio expert, for making the experience possible.

For more information about the event on Aug. 30 or about the da Vinci program, please contact Cheshire at 321-454-1000.

-BPS-