At this event, we invite winners (with weather and earth science related projects) from the science fairs we've judged and a parent for a special evening. The students display their projects at this event and we award cash prizes of $200, $100 and $50 to the top three projects based on score sheets filled out by all attendants who participate in the judging. We also honor our Scholarship Award Winner, awarded to an outstanding graduating high school senior intending to major in meteorology in college.

Culbertson graduated from Annapolis in 1971 and served aboard the USS Fox (CG-33) in the Gulf of Tonkin prior to reporting to flight training in Pensacola, Florida. After designation as a Naval Aviator at Beeville, Texas, in May 1973, he flew F-4 Phantom aircraft in VF-121, NAS Miramar, California, in VF-151 aboard the USS Midway (CV-41), permanently home ported in Yokosuka, Japan, and with the USAF in the 426th TFTS at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where he served as Weapons and Tactics Instructor. He has logged over 6,000 hours flying time in 40 different types of aircraft, and 350 carrier landings. On 9/11/01 he was the commander of the International Space Station, returning to earth in December, 2001.

Selected as a NASA astronaut candidate in May 1984, Culbertson completed basic astronaut training in June 1985. Technical assignments since then included: member of the team that redesigned and tested the Shuttle nosewheel steering, tires, and brakes; member of the launch support team at Kennedy Space Center for shuttle flights 61-A, 61-B, 61-C, and 51-L; in 1986, worked at the NASA Headquarters Action Center in Washington, D.C., assisting with the Challenger accident investigations conducted by NASA, the residential Commission, and Congress; lead astronaut at the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL); lead of the First Emergency Egress Team; and lead spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) in the Mission Control Center for seven missions (STS-27, 29,30, 28, 34, 33, and 32). A veteran of three space flights, Culbertson has logged over 146 days in space. Captain Culbertson is currently a Senior Vice-President of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), where he is leading their science and technology efforts regarding climate change.

The DC-AMS pays for the meals of the invited students and parents ($30/person). If you would like to help us defray these costs, mail a check (payable to DC-AMS) to D.C. Chapter, American Meteorological Society, P.O. Box 13557, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20911-3557. You can also donate online using Paypal (click the link below and enter the dollar amount you wish to donate). We appreciate your generosity and thank you!

From the Capital Beltway in Virginia (I-495), take Virginia Hwy. 123 Exit West to Tyson's Corner. At the 2nd light, turn right onto International Drive. Immediately get into the left lane and turn left at the 1st light onto Greensboro Drive. Go ¼ mile and turn left onto Solutions Drive. (The Cardinal Bank is at right at the intersection of Greensboro and Solutions Drives). Continue toward the 14-story SAIC building ahead. After entering the circle in front of the building, turn right into the Visitor Parking garage. Use front entrance of SAIC. The meeting room is on the ground floor, left of the lobby. No need to check in with security.