A Vacation to the Stars
By: Jeremiah Cook
Updated: July 6, 2012
CHEROKEE COUNTY, KS.--- This week, Lori Henderson, 17, is a baby sitter. Next week, the teen from Southeast High School in Cherokee, will be doing something a little different, working for NASA.
"Basically, what it will be is planning a trip to Mars with the people who work there," says Henderson.
Before last year, Lori had never heard of NASA's Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Camp. Now, she is one of 40 high school students from across the nation who will be helping NASA plan the next giant leap for man kind.
"They've split us into 4 teams, and I'll be on the team responsible for getting us there," says Lori.
Lori says she was more than just surprised to learn she had been chosen to go to Johnson Space Center in Houston.
"230 people filled out applications, and 135 made it into the online portion. At first, they told us 40 people were going down for the summer," states Lori.
Eventually, Lori and the other candidates were told the program had been expanded to include 40 more students in a 2nd week session.
"I checked the online part when I was at school one day and it said I needed to fill out a travel form and I was like, I think I made it," Lori says.
Lori's mom Regina works at Southeast High School, and was one of the first people Lori told about being accepted by NASA.
"I knew she was pretty excited about wanting to be in the program, so it's a great opportunity for her," says Reina Henderson.
Lori says she's nervous about the trip, for a couple of reasons.
"I have to fly by myself. Yeah, it's nerve wracking," says Lori.
Not to mention she'll be working with rocket scientist.
"Basically, what it will be is planning a trip to Mars with the people who work there," says Henderson.
Before last year, Lori had never heard of NASA's Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Camp. Now, she is one of 40 high school students from across the nation who will be helping NASA plan the next giant leap for man kind.
"They've split us into 4 teams, and I'll be on the team responsible for getting us there," says Lori.
Lori says she was more than just surprised to learn she had been chosen to go to Johnson Space Center in Houston.
"230 people filled out applications, and 135 made it into the online portion. At first, they told us 40 people were going down for the summer," states Lori.
Eventually, Lori and the other candidates were told the program had been expanded to include 40 more students in a 2nd week session.
"I checked the online part when I was at school one day and it said I needed to fill out a travel form and I was like, I think I made it," Lori says.
Lori's mom Regina works at Southeast High School, and was one of the first people Lori told about being accepted by NASA.
"I knew she was pretty excited about wanting to be in the program, so it's a great opportunity for her," says Reina Henderson.
Lori says she's nervous about the trip, for a couple of reasons.
"I have to fly by myself. Yeah, it's nerve wracking," says Lori.
Not to mention she'll be working with rocket scientist.
