ISAS Day 7: The Final Presentation

The ISAS students raced about this morning putting the final touches to the final Mars project and resulting presentation at the luncheon later this afternoon. They made sure to start as early as possible and, somewhat hectically, attempted to finish their requirements. With a quick run through before the actual presentation luncheon, the students appeared organized and confident and happily carried their presentation boards to the Simplot Ballroom in the Student Union Building for the last time.

It was here that the folks from Boise State University had set out a spectacular array of food. Of course, since this is Idaho, the food was a potato bar with every adornement imaginable for baked potatoes. The students enjoyed the food and talked with parents and other guests as they watched videos, slideshows, and listened to other speakers relate to them just how important and successful this program was.

The most touching moment during the luncheon was when a select group of students gave personal testimonies to those who were listening about what they experienced through the program. Speakers such as Superintendent Tom Luna, Dave Marquart, and Barbara Morgan congratulated the students on their exquisite work. Finally, the main event; the final presentation. In front of a room packed with eager listeners, the students described a successful mission to Mars and supported their positions with information supplied by a professionally-done powerpoint. The students had impressed everyone who had the pleasure to witness the luncheon and were beaming with pride after all of their hard work was finally completed.

The luncheon concluded with a graduation-like ceremony where the students were handed their certificates of completion and strutted across the stage with a little bit of confidence to put in their pockets. With the conclusion of the luncheon many students headed home and many decided to travel to the Discovery Center of Idaho to talk to visitors to the center about their experiences. Although they will all go home eventually, the students have left behind a legacy that will have to be matched by the following generations. These students are the top in their class and will steer the course of all of our futures. They deserve so much for the work they have done, and will do.

There are no pictures on this blog due to a highlight video which will be posted soon in a separate blog.

The blogs for the ISAS Summer Academy are now concluded. If interested, the ISAS: Idaho Science and Aerospace Scholars' facebook page can be accessed as students stay in contact and the next year's program begins.

--Andrew Schrader and Jaime Guevara--