[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 116 (Friday, July 29, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ON THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NASA LANGLEY AEROSPACE RESEARCH SUMMER 
                        SCHOLARS (LARSS) PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 29, 2011

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 
25th anniversary of the NASA Langley Aerospace Research Summer Scholars 
program.
  In 1986, under the leadership of Dr. Sam Massenberg along with the 
support of senior leadership from NASA Langley Headquarters, the 
Langley Aerospace Research Summer Scholars (LARSS) program was 
established. This program was designed to create internship 
opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and ultimately 
provide a pipeline of experienced graduates into NASA's workforce. 
Today, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and 
commemorate the program's 25th anniversary.
  The LARSS program is NASA's oldest year round internship program 
providing high school, undergraduate, and graduate students hands on 
research experience working side-by-side with NASA engineers and 
scientists. This program was ``the first of its kind'' and has served 
as a model for other NASA centers.
  During the 25 year history of the LARSS program, more than 4,500 
competitively selected students from all over the United States and the 
U.S. territories have participated in the program. The program began 
with a class of 20 in 1986 and has since grown to include more than 200 
students annually. This year the program received its largest applicant 
pool with nearly 800 applicants applying over the fall, spring, and 
summer sessions.
  The LARSS program has been benefiting engineering undergraduate and 
graduate students for 25 years. Many of these students join NASA's 
workforce and have taken a significant role in preserving NASA's 
leadership in aeronautics and space science. This program has been a 
catalyst for promoting careers in the fields of science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics especially in the African-American, 
Hispanic, and Native American communities. The result continues to be a 
well educated, well trained, and diverse engineering and science 
workforce for NASA. Minorities made up 23% of the 200 scholars 
participating in the program this past year and that number continues 
to increase.
  Since 2006, the Virginia Space Grant Consortium has managed the LARSS 
program for NASA under a sub-award from the National Institute of 
Aerospace. This has allowed the program to grow from a summer only 
program to a year round program in the spring, summer, and fall. The 
success of the LARSS program has been recognized by the Langley and 
Hampton Roads communities, and it was recently ranked sixth on a 
national list of the ``10 Best Internships for 2011'' by Vault Career 
Intelligence.
  As the world becomes increasingly relevant on technology, the 
importance of the United States remaining technologically competitive 
and producing quality engineers and scientists is vital.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud that 25 years later we are able to recognize 
the importance of this great program and the dynamic impact it has made 
on American society. On this 25th anniversary of LARSS, I commend NASA 
for the progress it has made to strengthen STEM education, and I 
challenge it to continue to inspire our youth to create new ideas, new 
products and innovative solutions to solve our nation's problems.
  It is my hope that LARSS will continue to provide NASA and our 
nation's engineering and science community a pipeline of problem 
solvers and innovators. I thank NASA Langley for continuing the great 
legacy of the LARSS program over the past 25 years, and I look forward 
to its continued success.

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