A Quarter Century Of Innovative STEM Education
Challenger Center for Space Science Education (Challenger
Center) is marking its 25th anniversary with the launch of its
"Challenger Changed My Life" program to highlight its
life-transforming benefits for students. The non-profit
organization was founded on April 24, 1986 in tribute to the seven
fallen astronauts of the Challenger Space Shuttle and their
education mission. With the ongoing support of the astronauts'
families, NASA, leading scientists, business leaders, educators and
the nation, Challenger Center continues its vital role in STEM
(science technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. Since
its creation, its nationwide network of Challenger Learning Centers
has served more than 4,000,000 students with simulated space
missions and powerful STEM-focused learning experiences.
"There is no better way to honor those courageous explorers than
to keep their dream for the future and passion for teaching and
learning alive in generation upon generation of our nation's
children," said June Scobee Rodgers, widow of Challenger Space
Shuttle commander Dick Scobee and founding chair of Challenger
Center's board of directors. "We're very proud to have inspired and
educated so many students in our first 25 years, yet we know we've
just begun to fulfill our mission of motivating tomorrow's
explorers, scientists and innovators."
Through school-day, after school, weekend and summer programs,
the Challenger Learning Center experience excites students with
space science learning activities, which creates positive
educational experiences and inspires them to pursue aerospace and
STEM-related careers. The organization's unique coast-to-coast
network of 48 Challenger Learning Centers takes children on
highly-realistic simulations of NASA-like missions to the Moon,
Mars, Comet Halley, and the asteroids. Students pilot and navigate
their spacecraft and launch scientific probes and experiments,
calling upon such essential 21st century skills as decision-making,
teamwork, problem-solving, and communications to complete their
missions successfully.
Challenger Center has been an educational leader, keeping
children connected to science education and exploration, which was
the centerpiece of the Challenger Space Shuttle's tragic mission.
"We mark this important milestone with renewed commitment to
Challenger's spirit of inspiration, discovery and teaching," said
Daniel Barstow, Challenger Center President. "The need to inspire
students to push the frontiers of knowledge and achievement and
continue America's leadership in science, technology and space
exploration has never been greater."
The campaign will showcase former students whose lives and career
choices were transformed by their Challenger Learning Center
experience. It will first profile Meg Meehan, an aerospace systems
engineer who flew her first Challenger Learning Center mission as a
sixth-grader and went on to work on the final shuttle flight to the
Hubble Space Telescope in 2009. "Had it not been for Challenger, I
probably would not have pursued a career in space exploration and
space science," Meehan said. "Challenger changed my life and helped
put me on my career path.... And, I'm hardly the only student who's
come face-to-face with their dreams and aspirations while flying a
Challenger mission."
As Challenger Center observes its first 25 years and honors the
courage and spirit of the Challenger astronauts, the organization
is revitalizing its mission for the next-quarter century. "We've
built a brilliant legacy in science education but Challenger is
hardly resting on its laurels," said Scott Parazynski, chairman of
Challenger Center's board of directors and a former NASA astronaut.
"We're anticipating new modes of space travel and exploration,
emerging technologies, and new domains of knowledge, all of which
will offer our educators exciting teaching and learning
opportunities."