Sonja Alexander
Headquarters, Washington       October 3, 2002
(Phone: 202/358-1761)

Pamela Piper
Modern Technology Systems, Inc., Riverdale, Md.
(Phone: 301/985-5171)

RELEASE: 02-191

NASA SELECTS NEW "SHARP" EDUCATION PARTNER

     NASA's Education Division selected Modern Technology 
Systems Inc. and the Center for Educational Technologies as 
joint partners to administer the new consolidated NASA Summer 
High School Apprenticeship Research Program (SHARP).

NASA SHARP is a single, synergistic program that focuses on 
NASA's mission, facilities, human resources and programs. 
NASA's goal is to involve underrepresented students in 
academic, workplace and social experiences and research 
opportunities to support the educational excellence of the 
nation.

NASA SHARP is the unified version of the former SHARP, the 
commuting program conducted at most NASA field centers and 
SHARP PLUS, a residential program conducted at host 
universities. The separate programs were consolidated as NASA 
SHARP, incorporating commuting and residential components.

Both components are designed to foster and increase the 
involvement of high school students in science, mathematics, 
technology, engineering and geography. The program is 
especially designed to focus on students from groups 
traditionally underrepresented in those fields, both 
academically and in the workplace.

The new NASA SHARP program began Oct. 1, 2002.

-end-