Submitted photo Rachel Noe of Mingo Central High School works with technology at the West Virginia SpaceTrek Program in 2025.

BUCKHANNON — West Virginia Wesleyan College will host the 2026 West Virginia SpaceTrek Program in July, offering local young women experiences in aerospace engineering, satellite technology and STEM disciplines.

First launched by Morehead State University’s Space Science Center in Kentucky, SpaceTrek is a residential summer program in space systems engineering designed for young women entering 9th-12th grade or enrolling as first-year college students.

SpaceTrek provides “immersive, hands-on experiences” in aerospace engineering, satellite technology and STEM disciplines, giving students an “unparalleled opportunity” to learn in a university environment while preparing for future careers in the space and technology sectors, according to a release announcing the program’s location this year.

The program will take place from July 12 to July 25 at the West Virginia Wesleyan College campus in Buckhannon. The program accepts 24 students, who will be housed in on-campus residential facilities during the program’s run.

“West Virginia Wesleyan College offers an exceptional environment for SpaceTrek, and we are  delighted to expand the program to their campus for 2026,” Morehead State University STEM Center of Excellence Director and SpaceTrek founder Jen Carter said in the release.”The institution’s academic strengths and dedication to student learning make it an ideal partner as we continue to grow SpaceTrek’s reach across Appalachia.”

Scholarships and financial aid are available to help families with the participant fee. Applications are due on May 11 and acceptance notifications will go out on May 18. Accepted participants have until May 18 to RSVP.

This will be the West Virginia SpaceTrek Program’s second year in operation with Morehead State University partnering with TMC Technologies in Fairmont, as well as the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative (WVPEC), to bring the program to the WVWC campus.

“West Virginia Wesleyan College is thrilled to partner with our friends at TMC Technologies to host SpaceTrek and support this incredible program for young women pursuing STEM,” WVWC President James Moore said in the release. “Experiences like this spark curiosity, build confidence and show students that they belong in high-impact fields like aerospace and engineering.”

“When students engage in hands-on, real-world science at this level, it strengthens not only their technical skills but their long-term academic success and college readiness. We are proud to help open doors to opportunity for talented students across West Virginia.”

The program’s expansion into central West Virginia was made possible through a $3.98 million grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission’s Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies, the release states.

According to Denise Lindsey, the Chief Strategist and Senior Vice President of the Federal Civilian Programs Division at TMC Technologies, the SpaceTrek Program opens doors for young women across West Virginia, giving them “authentic, real‒world experiences” in space systems engineering and STEM. She said in the release that this is exactly the kind of hands‒on workforce development the state needs to prepare the next generation of talent.

“Seeing these young women step into complex engineering challenges with confidence and curiosity is truly inspiring,” Lindsey said in the release. “I’m incredibly proud that TMC Technologies is helping lead this effort and excited to be part of a program that is transforming futures.”

For more information, contact John Dahlia at TMC Technologies at 304-276-3161 or by email at john.dahlia@tmctechnologies.com.