Virgin Islands Students Complete Elite NASA-Style Training at U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Seven USVI students completed elite training at Space Camp 2025 in Alabama, thanks to full scholarships from CFVI and RapierMed, participating in advanced simulations, aviation drills, and leadership exercises that inspired future STEM ambitions.
2025-07-16 13:15:33 - VI News Staff
Seven high school students from the U.S. Virgin Islands have returned from an intensive week at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where they participated in immersive training through Space Camp and Aviation Challenge 2025.
The experience was made possible through full scholarships provided by the Kym’s Kids Caribbean Agency Fund at the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI), in partnership with RapierMed. Covering all expenses — including airfare, lodging, meals, tuition, and custom Space Camp flight suits — the scholarships opened the door to a nationally renowned program focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning.
Six of the students took part in the Advanced Space Academy, a program designed for youth aged 15 to 18. Their training included authentic space simulations, scuba-based neutral buoyancy exercises, and a 24-hour simulated space mission that required real-time collaboration between roles in mission control and aboard a mock spacecraft.
One participant, Anais Craig of Gifft Hill School in St. John, completed Aviation Challenge Mach III, the highest level of flight training available to high school students. Her program mirrored the training of elite fighter pilots, including water survival, land navigation, and simulated combat exercises in high-performance flight simulators. Craig was honored with the “Right Stuff Award,” a highly selective recognition granted to one trainee per week for exhibiting leadership, teamwork, and perseverance — traits emblematic of early astronauts and test pilots. “Space Camp was more than just learning about space,” she said. “It was about leadership, teamwork, and pushing our limits.”