WHEREAS, the Virginia Space Flight Academy, a nonprofit organization located at Wallops Island, has provided innovative learning experiences to students and promoted a love of science and aeronautics for 25 years; and
WHEREAS, the Eastern Shore is an aerospace hub that supports the diverse missions of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the United States Navy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority; and
WHEREAS, in 1997, the Eastern Shore Regional Partnership formed the Space Flight Academy Task Force to initiate a residential space camp pilot project to showcase and leverage the region's aerospace expertise; and
WHEREAS, the space camp evolved into the Virginia Space Flight Academy in 1998; the academy started as a pilot program in collaboration with NASA, the United States Navy, Old Dominion University, and Virginia Space; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Space Flight Academy expanded quickly and has grown to offer six weeks of residential summer space camps at different levels and a year-round virtual science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) academy; these programs focus on aerospace, coding, robotics, and career pathways designed to advance equity and increase interest in STEM careers; and
WHEREAS, over the past 25 years, the Virginia Space Flight Academy has grown to provide its students with access to unique opportunities through multiple partnerships with NASA, Virginia Space, Rocket Lab, and other entities to forge continuous STEM learning pathways; to ensure access, Virginia Space Flight Academy offers financial needs-based scholarships and approximately 100 were awarded for the 2021–2022 season; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Space Flight Academy has empowered thousands of students to see themselves as future STEM leaders, initiating change on a large scale to "ignite dreams and launch futures" that lead to diverse workforce representation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Virginia Space Flight Academy on the occasion of its 25th anniversary; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Virginia Space Flight Academy as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for its contributions to inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.