Shoot for the moon? He did

By Lauren Ricks

May 20, 2008 09:24 am

— Alex Schlebach is following a dream that began nearly a decade ago.
He has been accepted as an intern for National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at the Johnson Space Center in Houston for eight weeks this summer.
“My parents took me to the visitors center when I was eight. We took tours and I knew I really wanted to do this,” said Schlebach, a 17-year-old Eustace High School senior. “I’ve always wanted to work with the program. I’ve been fascinated with it since I was a little kid.”
NASA awards the internships through the Interdisciplinary National Science Project Incorporating Research and Education Experience (INSPIRE) program.
He will be one of 20 interns to work at the Johnson Space Center during the summer. Schlebach’s internship will be from June 16 to August 8.
Schlebach said he sent his application in early March.
According to Eustace ISD Superintendent Dr. Coy Holcombe, Schlebach received a letter of congratulations from NASA on May 5.
Steve Chance, INSPIRE project manager, said over 400 students applied for the program nationally.
Chance said the interns were each assigned to a NASA facility service area near where they live. The Johnson Space Center is in the service area for Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas.
“I am honored, excited and shocked that I got in,” he said.
The Eustace Independent School District’s board of trustees will be recognizing Schlebach at tonight’s regular meeting.
“We are extremely proud of him. This is something he has been working on for a year and a half now,” Holcombe said.
Schlebach said last year he participated in another NASA program called Texas Aerospace Scholars. To participate in the program he completed Web-based lessons provided by NASA for seven months and spent one week in Houston as an intern.
In 2007, he and another student, Hubert Lowery, designed a space suit they termed “Personal Expedition and Discovery Suit,” or PEDS, and submitted it for the Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Award. Holcombe said the space suit was designed to be more user-friendly.
The team placed sixth out of the top ten finalists. In October 2007, the winner of the competition was announced at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, N.M. Schlebach said the space suit received 110,000 votes by the public.
Schlebach said 24 teams had submitted ideas for the competition.
“This is an awesome opportunity for an awesome kid. Alex has worked tirelessly for the last two years researching, writing countless essays and working on projects for the NASA Aerospace Scholars program ... not to mention writing many college entrance essays,” said Kelly Booth, an advanced placement English teacher at Eustace High School. “Not once did he get discouraged or give up when he’d have to revise an essay four or five times or have to toss an one and start over. ... I am proud of him, his hard work and achievements.”
Schlebach asked Booth to write a recommendation for the internship application.
He has been accepted to Texas A&M and will major in industrial engineering. He wants to continue to work with NASA.
“I want to work there after college. The program is a stepping stone for that,” Schlebach said.
“NASA is lucky to have a kid like Alex,” Booth said.

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