Now in its ninth year, the Washington Aerospace Scholars program has announced that Holden Griskey Watson of Orcas Island High School is participating in phase one of the 2014-15 program cycle.

WAS is designed to connect high school juniors with educational and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Watson applied in  the fall of 2014, along with 212 student applicants from 112 different public, private and homeschool organizations, to participate in phase one of the WAS Program. He is now among the 156 students still participating in an online, distance-learning curriculum. The top performing 120 students will be invited to one of three summer residency sessions hosted by the Museum of Flight in July.