CHICAGO (Map) - CHICAGO, May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- ComEd and the Adler Planetarium today announced eighth grader Matthew Rasmussen as the grand-prize winner in the second annual Shoot for the Moon essay contest. Rasmussen's winning essay was selected from more than 450 entries, and received a perfect score from astronaut and contest judge, Captain James A. Lovell, Jr. Rasmussen, home-schooled in Grayslake, Ill., will spend a week at Space Camp in Alabama this summer courtesy of ComEd.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080515/AQTH535)

The essay contest is an extension of ComEd's sponsorship of the Adler's permanent exhibition, Shoot for the Moon Powered by ComEd, which features the Gemini 12 spacecraft and tells the thrilling stories of American space exploration. Through this program, ComEd is encouraging eighth-grade students throughout its service territory to consider the variety of jobs it takes to complete a space mission, and about how their lessons in science classes and everyday life would help them with a career in space exploration.

"The Shoot for the Moon essay contest is a great opportunity to develop math and science literacy among young students," said Frank M. Clark, ComEd chairman and CEO. "At ComEd, our goal through this program is to encourage an interest in science and technology careers. Matthew's essay was exceptional. He has a great future ahead of him."

Clark also serves on the board at the Adler Planetarium.

In addition to Rasmussen's grand-prize-winning essay, the following eighth-grade students won first and second runner-up in the contest:

    -- First Runner-Up: Gena Lenti, St. Viator in Chicago, will receive free
       attendance at the Adler's summer camp.
    -- Second Runner-Up: Marcellus Jones, St. Angela in Chicago, will receive
       a VIP party at the Adler for 10 people.

The grand-prize winner and the two runners-up also will win family memberships to the Adler Planetarium.

"Space exploration is dramatically different than when NASA was first established 50 years ago, but the inspiration is still the same. To dream big and go where no one has gone before," said Dr. Paul H. Knappenberger Jr., PhD, Adler Planetarium president. "This contest is a great tool to encourage kids to imagine their role in future space exploration and to learn about the many diverse job opportunities in space science. With today's technology, the opportunities are endless, and we are grateful to ComEd for sponsoring this contest and helping so many young people get excited about space exploration."

The winning essays were selected by a panel of judges, including Lovell, Clark, Knappenberger, State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford, chairperson of the Illinois Senate Committee on Education; Lula Ford, Illinois Commerce Commission commissioner; Tamara L. O'Shaughnessy, editor of Chicago Parent magazine; LeAnn Trotter, reporter at NBC 5; Stella Foster, columnist at the Chicago Sun-Times; and Kayla Ladner, who won the essay contest last year as an eighth-grade student at St. Angela and is currently a freshman at St. Joseph High School in Westchester.

Following is Matthew Rasmussen's winning essay:

Throughout my life, I have learned many things, and had many experiences. Some of these would be applicable to a career in space exploration. This year in particular, I am learning two subjects that are especially useful: geometry and chemistry. I am also participating in Science Olympiad.

I have learned about thermodynamics. Thermodynamics could be useful in calculating different heats, like whether or not a shuttle's heat resistant tiles would melt, or if a space station would become too cold.

In geometry, I am learning about trigonometry, which would be very useful for trajectories and other paths. The ancient Greeks used transversals of parallels to find the size of the Earth, and cosine to discover the distances to the sun and moon. A strong ability in math is critical in the space program.

Over the last few years I have been active in Science Olympiad. I have studied topographic maps, useful for mapping the moon or a planet. I have also competed in biology. Measuring weights and measures, and interpreting graphs and data would be useful for experiments in space, and knowledge of human nutrition needs can help in maintaining the health of astronauts in space.

Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), one of the nation's largest electric utilities with approximately 5.4 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across Northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population.

The Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum -- America's First Planetarium -- was founded in 1930 by Chicago business leader Max Adler. The museum has announced a new vision to be the world's leading space science center. The museum will inspire the next generation of explorers by sharing the stories of human space exploration and America's space heroes. The Adler is a recognized leader in science education, with a focus on inspiring young people, particularly women and minorities, to pursue careers in science.