Chelen Johnson
High school students are hungry for authentic research experiences, and both high school teachers and students benefit immensely from having contact with a professional astronomer. This may seem inefficient (because it costs a lot of money to connect individuals with professionals), but it can change lives, and there are wonderful ripple effects.
[NITARP] was also one of the strongest experiences I have had in my 20+ years teaching. Your program is amazing and you are wondering. It is priceless. I know you invest so much into it; I wanted to share a bit of the impact you are having. Thanks for doing what you do so well.
My students now see themselves as capable of more than they had before but more importantly see themselves has having a future in the world they saw through the program. Attending the AAS is an important culmination of the experience that ties the importance of science research together and offers an important glimpse into a world of possibilities for students.
