A 6TH year pupil from Garnock Academy is heading to the USA later this month after being chosen as a successful candidate for Scottish Space School.

Max Jacobson who is 16 and lives in Beith, was one of 400 applicants who were looking to secure a prestigious trip to Houston, Texas.

Only 10 made the grade and Max will be amongst them when they travel to the Johnston Space Center on October 25.

Max said: “Applications for Scottish Space School opened before Christmas 2013, highlighted to me by my physics teacher – without whom I may never have applied.

“The application process involved briefly outlining your current qualifications and subjects being undertaken in S5, along with the subject you intended to study at university and a short personal statement.

“There were around 400 applicants, all of a very high academic calibre, of which 100 were selected to participate in a one week programme at Strathclyde University.

"This involved a variety of team challenges and lectures on a space theme.” Max added: “We had guest visits from Astronauts Michael Baker, a veteran of four space flights, and Douglas Wheelock, who has spent 178 days in space aboard the ISS, Space Shuttle and Soyuz spacecraft, as well as NASA engineers Sue Lederer and Heather Paul.

“We also had Skype calls from various NASA employess, including the astronaut Chris Hadfield, famous for his Youtube videos from the International Space Station.” “Based on performance during the week, 40 of us were selected to come back for a selection workshop day involving quick-fire interviews, an updating of the personal statement and questions based on why you deserve to go on the learning journey.

“At this point, we weren’t aware that it wa a two centre tour.

"This was then evauluated, and the top 10 announced the same day on their website.

“Coincidentally, and rather frustratingly, my wifi was down on the day of the workshop, so I had to wait fixated to my phone lacking a decent mobile internet signal.

"Though when the successful candidates were named on the website, my elation was hardly disgusied.” Mr Alan Dick, headteacher at Garnock Academy, added: “Max is an excellent ambassador for the school.

"We are all extremely proud of his achievements, not only gaining five As in his highers, but also his success in securing a position at Space School.