Seven MIHS Students Complete 5-Month Washington Aerospace Curriculum

(Left to right) Kai Nielsen, Maren Schalla, Bryan Fu, Tyler Lowe, Denis Batalov, Albert Pyo, and Aiden Chen in the MIHS courtyard

Mercer Island, WA, May 30, 2025 – Seven Mercer Island High School juniors have recently completed the Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) 5-month WAS online curriculum. These seven students are:

Denis Batalov

Aiden Chen

Kai Nielsen

Maren Schalla

Bryan Fu

Tyler Lowe

Albert Pyo

Based on their outstanding participation in the online course, Denis Batalov, Aiden Chen, Kai Nielsen, and Maren Schalla were invited to participate in the competitive WAS Summer Residency.

WAS is designed to connect high school juniors with educational and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through independent learning, hands-on interaction, professional guidance, and site-based tours. Since 2006, over 2,300 students have successfully completed the program and 75% have since reported being in a STEM career pathway.

In November 2024, along with 300 others, these MIHD students began a five-month course consisting of nine NASA and University of Washington designed lessons. While successful completion of the online course curriculum can earn the students five University of Washington credits in Aeronautics & Astronautics; the ultimate prize is securing a spot in the Summer Residency.

This summer, scholars will be presenting their design for a human mission to Mars. In each session, four student teams will cooperate to plan a human mission to Mars with support from professional engineers/scientists, university students, and certificated educators. Additionally, participants receive briefings from aerospace professionals, tour engineering facilities, and compete in hands-on engineering challenges.

Student and teacher applications for the 2025-26 program year will be available starting in Fall of 2025. Be the first to know by filling out an interest form at https://www.museumofflight.org/was. The online course will begin in November and participants must be high school juniors and residents of Washington state. There is no cost for participation in WAS Phase One!

WAS is hosting a Virtual Info Nights on Monday, June 2 from 6 - 7PM

Students, families, and teachers are welcome to join the WAS Info night. More information can be found here.