WASHINGTON — High school juniors from Defense Department schools can now apply for a chance to participate in a six-week research course at Massachusetts Institute of Technology next summer, officials announced Wednesday.

The Department of Defense Education Activity will choose three students to participate in the Research Science Institute program — one from DODDS-Europe, one from DODDs Pacific, and one from the stateside defense school system.

Officials said the students selected will experience college-level classes taught by distinguished professors from several universities. In all 75 high school students from across America will participate in the program.

Selection to the program includes lodging and meals for the course, which runs from June 21 to Aug. 1.

Students may download an application for the program at the Center for Excellence in Education’s Web site, http://www.cee.org. The deadline for submitting applications is Feb. 20.

Scholarships available for military spousesWASHINGTON — Applications for the National Military Family Association’s 2009 military spouse scholarship program are now open.

The Joanne Holbrook Patton Scholarship Program awards scholarships of $500 to $1,000 to military spouses to attend post secondary or graduate school. The group hopes to hand out between 200 and 400 scholarships next year, officials said.

The program is open to spouses of all uniformed servicemembers, active duty and reserve, of any branch or rank. Officials said the scholarship funds may be used to assist with tuition, room and board, or other fees.

Spouses interested in the program must complete an online application and a 500-word essay to be considered for the program.

Applications must be completed by Feb. 1. For more information visit www.nmfa.org/scholarship.

Humphreys’ gas station to open SaturdayPYEONGTAEK, South Korea — Camp Humphreys’ first AAFES gas station is set to open Saturday morning, officials said Thursday.

The station is near the intersection of Freedom and Victory roads, near the Humphreys Army Lodge, and will sell premium and unleaded gas and diesel fuel.

Officials had planned to open it Dec. 5 but postponed the opening to allow time to replace a part in a fuel dispenser.

At least two more Army and Air Force Exchange Service gas stations are planned for Humphreys.

One is to go up in the Zoeckler Station area sometime within the next four years, officials have said. A third is planned where the post is expanding, at a date still to be set.

Court-martial set in launch control theftBISMARCK, N.D. — The military says an officer accused of stealing a missile launch control device from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota will face a court-martial.

Capt. Paul Borowiecki is accused of taking the launch control device in July 2005, rather than destroying it as required when it was no longer in use.

Officials say he admitted the theft in May and returned the device.

A supervisor said Borowiecki wanted it as souvenir.

Borowiecki is charged with dereliction of duty, making false official statements, wrongful appropriation of military property and the mishandling of classified items in violation of federal law.