Thursday, January 20, 2011



What started out as a tragedy on the morning of Jan. 28, 1986 has turned into a monumental educational triumph. The Challenger Center for Space Science Education, which serves as a living legacy to the astronauts of the Space Shuttle Challenger, is a not-for-profit education organization created in 1986 by the families of the astronauts from Challenger Space Shuttle "Teacher in Space" mission STS-51-L. This year marks its 25th year of using science and math to help students build the skills most needed for the 21st century, including decision-making, teamwork, problem solving and communication. As many residents know, Dr. June Scobee Rodgers (the widow of the Challenger Commander, Dick Scobee) is a Chattanooga resident and a driving force behind the formation of our local Challenger Center. The Challenger STEM Learning Center at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga is one of 48 international Challenger Center locations.

On the 25th anniversary of the tragedy, Challenger STEM Learning Center at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga wishes to continue to honor and remember crew members and their families. We are asking that students be encouraged to interview a parent, family member or friends and ask the simple question, "Where were you on January 28th, 1986 when you heard about the Challenger tragedy?" The Challenger Center will then develop an article based on the responses received and will submit to local news media for publication. Students may include their name, school, and grade level and their parent's name with their submission. Students are requested to email their responses to the Challenger STEM Learning Center at Tom-Patty@utc.edu. Additionally, students may post their responses on the UTC Challenger Center’s Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/UTC-Challenger-Learning-Center/124801510016) or the Challenger Center’s blog (http://www.utcchallengercenter.blogspot.com).

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