Students ages 12-14 may now apply for Space Academy for Leading Students in Alabama, a Space Camp program funded by the Alabama legislature.

One boy and one girl living in Alabama House District 18, which includes Franklin as well as Lauderdale and Colbert counties, will receive a scholarship to attend SALSA, which promotes science, technology, engineering and mathematics education along with leadership skills.

To be eligible for SALSA, students must apply for the scholarship through their school counselor. Rep. Jamie Kiel has notified all school systems in District 18 about the scholarship, and he said counselors have all the information students need to apply.

“I am excited to announce two middle school students who live in my House district will receive scholarships to attend a special Space Camp program free of charge,” Kiel said. “Space Camp is special to me because as a middle school student, I attended Space Camp. It was a week of hands-on learning that opened my eyes to what was available to a student like me from a small school.

Kiel called the camp a “once-in-a-lifetime experience that can ignite a love for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

“I also learned valuable leadership and social skills at Space Camp,” Kiel added, “and I believe that it is a worthwhile experience for any student who might be interested.”

“I am very excited that two students will share the same experience I did as a student,” Kiel said. “My parents believed in Space Camp enough that they sacrificed for me to attend. These scholarships will allow students to attend who might not otherwise be able to.

“I would suggest that parents encourage students who are either interested in STEM now, or students who might become interested in STEM because of this camp, to apply immediately. This experience might open the eyes of a future scientist, astronaut, doctor or engineer.”

Travel to and from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center is not included.