9 March 2023
Hilton College’s William Kitching has been selected to represent South Africa at the United Space School at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Houston from 16 July to 31 July. He is one of only two South Africans chosen for the honour after a countrywide selection process.
The United Space School is an interdisciplinary program that annually brings together up to 50 students from 25-plus nations to study at the University of Houston – Clear Lake, which is located a mere five minutes from NASA.
Working under the mentorship of engineers, scientists, and leaders in the aerospace industry, the students join forces to design their own “Manned Mission to Mars”.
According to the United Space School website: “United Space School’s organisation, schedule and curriculum are designed to provide the structure, knowledge, resources, mentoring, and appropriate settings to complete the project, a Manned Mission to Mars. To provide the knowledge necessary to complete the Manned Mission to Mars Project, a curriculum has been designed to provide appropriate training and development by instructors qualified and knowledgeable in the proper disciplines. Civil and contractor aerospace professionals are selected to provide needs-based instruction in topics relevant to designing a Manned Mission to Mars. Library and on-line research facilities are provided at the University of Houston Clear Lake campus.”
More information is available at United Space School – FISE
Incredibly, it is the second year in succession that a Hilton College pupil has earned selection to attend the United Space School. In 2022, Ben Kok visited the school from 24 July to 7 August.
Ben is the Head of Hilton College Academics for 2023. At the beginning of the year, he said: “As Head of Academics, I plan on refining our systems to promote a better academic culture in the school. I also want to inspire the boys to use their outstanding educational foundation to enrich the lives of those less fortunate among us.”
It might be stating the obvious, but, like Ben, William is one of the top academic achievers at Hilton. Like Ben, he is also aware of and active in social issues.
As a member of the Hilton College Transformation Committee, a student body which facilitates education around social issues at the school and South Africa at large, William, through the committee, works for a more equitable society, through discussions, debates, the implementation of projects and mediation of disputes.
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