Three STISD students selected for competitive STEM Enhancement in Earth Science Summer High School Intern Program

Three students from South Texas Independent School District (STISD) Science Academy in Mercedes were selected to participate in this year's STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Summer High School Intern Program in collaboration with The University of Texas Center for Space Research (UT/CSR) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

According to the program website, the NASA and UT/CSR Summer Intern Program is a nationally competitive Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program for high school students, which provides selected students with exposure to Earth and space research. Internships are offered to motivated high school students who have an interest in pursuing STEM careers. Through the program, students gain experience in authentic NASA research through field investigation and data analysis alongside NASA subject matter experts. Interns can view and investigate NASA remote sensing data, mission design, analysis of ice sheets, Earth’s gravity field, and other observations while being mentored by project scientists.

This summer’s program includes a combination of distance learning modules, remote work, and the on-site internship, which for rising seniors launches July 7 and ends July 20.

Hundreds of rising juniors and seniors from across the nation apply annually to be part of this program. Nearly 1500 completed applications were received for this year’s cohort, and only a slim margin made the top 14 percent for onsite and virtual internships, including Science Academy rising seniors Klarissa Contreras, Katia Martinez and Noah Peralez.

South Texas ISD is a state- and nationally-recognized public school district offering tuition-free college- and career-preparation to students from Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy Counties. The all-magnet district is comprised of seven secondary campuses within the Rio Grande Valley, including four high schools serving grades 9-12 – South Texas ISD Health Professions in Mercedes, South Texas ISD Medical Professions in Olmito, South Texas ISD Science Academy in Mercedes, and South Texas ISD World Scholars in Edinburg – two middle schools serving grades 6-8 – South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy in Edinburg and South Texas ISD Rising Scholars Academy in San Benito – and one stand-alone virtual school – South Texas ISD Virtual Academy – serving students in grades 6-12. For additional information, call 1-800-21STUDY or visit www.stisd.net.