By Gary Sabol, Community Relations Manager
Mykayla Runckel, a junior at Lakes High School, was accepted into NASA’s Women in STEM High School (WISH) Aerospace Scholars program. The WISH program offers a one-of-a-kind experience for female high school students to jump start their future and explore the possibilities of a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) related major or career.

Lakes junior Mykayla Runckel, who was accepted into NASA’s WISH program, shows the energy emitted from a Tesla coil.
“Mykayla had to complete the application process as well as receive letters of recommendation from teachers,” said Lakes science teacher Kim Knust. “She was one of only 40 females selected from applications submitted from across the nation.”
Runckel is currently completing online assignments as part of the program. She will attend a summer program at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX to receive in-depth instruction in aerospace and space exploration.
“I really enjoy science and it comes naturally to me. It’s like a puzzle,” said Runckel.