NASA Art Contest Winners Draw on Their Young Imaginations

HAMPTON, Va., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA's reach extends from
outer space to hundreds of millions of homes and schools.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090112/DC58051 )
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO )

Students near NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., have used art
and their imaginations to illustrate some of the aerospace agency's
contributions and potential contributions. The youngsters were part of an
annual NASA Langley art contest that resulted in a limited edition calendar
"NASA 2009/All Around Us: From A to Z."

NASA Langley asked schools and home schools to submit one entry per grade
level, kindergarten to 12th grade. Contest rules stated artwork had to be
original work, done without the help of a computer, that illustrated one of
six NASA themes: aeronautics, earth science, space operations, future space
exploration, people who work for NASA and benefits of NASA research and
technologies.

"We started the contest last year to celebrate NASA's 50th anniversary," said
contest organizer Katrina Young. "It was so successful that we're trying to
make it a yearly event. We found not only does the calendar contest excite the
students to learn more about how NASA uses inspiration, innovation and
discovery to build a better world. It also excites a lot of adults to see
NASA's missions through the eyes of the youngsters."

"We had about 300 entries from around Hampton Roads," said Young. "That's more
than triple the number we had last year."

NASA Langley and its partners at the Virginia Air & Space Center (VASC)
awarded 96 prizes: a grand prize and 12 first place prizes, as well as
certificates for second and third places and honorable mention. The grand
prize included the cover of the calendar, admission passes to the VASC, a tour
of NASA Langley and other rewards. First place winners' submissions are also
included in the calendar. All of the artwork that appears in the calendar will
also be on display at the Virginia Air & Space Center until the end of the
year.

"We're proud to hang the artwork of these outstanding students and support
NASA's mission to inspire the public about aerospace exploration, science and
technology," said Megan Steele, VASC director of marketing and public
relations. "That's an important part of our mission too as NASA Langley's
official visitors' center."

A panel of five judges, including a NASA Langley graphic artist and a local
art instructor, judged the entries, based on originality, interpretation of
subject matter/theme, creative techniques, composition and overall artistic
appearance.

A complete list of winners will be posted on the Internet after the ceremony.
For more information, check:

http://www.nasa.gov/langley

For additional information about NASA, please go to:

http://www.nasa.gov/

SOURCE NASA

Kathy Barnstorff of NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.,
+1-757-864-9886, +1-757-344-8511 (mobile), Kathy.barnstorff@nasa.gov; or Megan
Steele of Virginia Air & Space Center, +1-757-727-0900, ext. 730,
msteele@vasc.org