John Thompson, president of the Lighthouse for the Blind-Saint Louis, said, "This is a record number of Space Camp scholarships that the Lighthouse has granted since we began offering Space Camp scholarships in 2006 as part of Lighthouse 'See the Future' programs. Every year, the Lighthouse provides scholarships for children who are blind or legally blind, aged 9 to 18 years, to attend Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students (SCIVIS) at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

"The growth of our Space Camp scholarship program enhances The Lighthouse mission to offer education and support services to children and adults who are blind or visually impaired," Mr. Thompson added, noting that about 190 students in school grades four through from across the United States will attend this Space Camp session.

Angie Yorke, Community Enrichment Programs Manager at the Lighthouse, said, "Space Camp is fun because it shows kids what astronauts do. It excites and educates students in fields of math, science and technology. It helps inspire teamwork, self-confidence and communication skills through simulations of space missions, rocket building, robotics and space station experiments. The session includes presentations by NASA professionals who are blind discussing career opportunities and working in the space industry."

SCIVIS week is coordinated by teachers of the visually impaired from across the United States. Special considerations are extended to help students feel at ease during training for "space missions." Students also benefit from the latest technology such as tactile Braille displays, CCTV's, large print output, and synthetic speech for computers.

The Lighthouse scholarships cover each student's tuition costs for meals, lodging, transportation, programming and materials.

Also known as LHB Industries, Lighthouse for the Blind-Saint Louis is a non-profit entity that helps adults and children who are visually impaired maintain dignity and independence by offering Employment, Education and Support Services. The Lighthouse currently employs nearly 70 people who are legally blind at its plants in the cities of Berkeley and Overland in St. Louis County. The Lighthouse and its employees manufacture, assemble, warehouse and sell high-quality products to government and business customers nationwide. These include first aid kits, medical kits, catheters, aerosol and liquid paints, aerosol and liquid cleaning products, eco-friendly products and many others.

All sales revenues directly support Lighthouse programs including Professional Career Development; Summer Orientation & Mobility & Adaptive Living Resource Program (SOAR) Summer Jobs for Students; Continuing Education; Arts & Entertainment Accessibility; Low Vision Aid; and others available for individuals who are legally blind and visually impaired in Missouri and Southwestern Illinois.

For information, contact Brittney Smithers, Marketing Manager, at toll-free 800.542.3697, or 314.423.4333, or visit the website http://www.lhbindustries.com. Media contact: Jeff Dunlap at 314.409.5203.