ALAMOSA — The new Wagner Family Endowment for Student Internships will place Adams State University students in Alamosa’s Ortega Middle School to help recruit and mentor students for the regional and state Science Fair.

Virgil and Carol Wagner, both Adams State alumni, created the endowment for full-time students majoring in science or education.

“We chose a project that will work with middle school kids, because that is the time to get them interested in science and motivate them to continue it in high school,” Carol said. She taught mostly first grade in Alamosa School District for many years.

Virgil is a master electrician and for a time owned the Walsh Hotel.

“We want to inspire kids to be involved in Science Fair,” said Carol.

The Wagners appreciate the influence Science Fair had on one of their son’s careers. He won the regional science fair with his project on lasers. While presenting it at the state competition, a representative from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) was impressed with the project and offered him a job he held through college.

“He also took science courses at Adams State while he was in high school, which helped him immensely at University of Colorado. He now owns a computer consultation business,” Carol added.