NASA Administrator Bolden Named Champion Of Summer Learning

The National Summer Learning Association has recognized NASA Administrator Charles Bolden as a Champion of Summer Learning. The award honors Bolden's dedication to keeping America's middle school students engaged in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through a new initiative called the Summer of Innovation.

Five leaders from across the nation who have invested in summer learning programs and helped increase public support for them will receive the award. "Bolden's leadership on the NASA Summer of Innovation program has resulted in a major step forward on two critical policy challenges facing our nation: summer learning loss and STEM education," said Ron Fairchild, CEO of the association.

Bolden officially kicked off the Summer of Innovation June 10 at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. Using content from NASA's missions and research, the program will engage thousands of middle school students in STEM learning during the summer months when many students experience "summer slide," or a loss of skills acquired during the school year. Summer of Innovation is a cornerstone of the Educate to Innovate campaign President Obama announced last November.