HOUSTON – The Briarwood School junior Luke Bruno has been selected to participate in the prestigious Texas High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) program. This immersive STEM experience connects students with NASA’s missions and future space exploration initiatives. The year-long program begins in the fall and allows Texas high school juniors to engage in online coursework focusing on space exploration, Earth science, technology, and aeronautics.

Bruno, who has attended Briarwood since third grade, will spend five months completing rigorous online modules, learning about NASA’s work, and preparing for a possible invitation to the Moonshot summer experience. In this five-day virtual event, students collaborate with NASA scientists and engineers. Top-performing teams from Moonshot may receive an all-expenses-paid residential trip to NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

“Our students always reach for the stars, but Luke is proving that the stars aren’t so far away for Briarwood students,” Briarwood Head of School David Mendlewski shared. Next year, Bruno plans to apply to the U.S. Military Academy, the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy, aiming to continue his pursuit of excellence beyond high school.

Bruno’s father expressed his gratitude for the support Briarwood has provided. “I can’t explain in words what the school has done for our son and what it has to offer a child with learning differences.”

The Texas High School Aerospace Scholars program allows students like Bruno to dive deep into STEM education and opens the door to a potential future career in aerospace, engineering, and space exploration.

The Briarwood School congratulates Luke Bruno on this outstanding achievement and looks forward to seeing him soar in his journey with NASA and beyond.

Media Contact: Erin Gregg, egregg@briarwoodschool.org