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KPMS astronomy class mingles with NASA’s Col. Hall
By Hugh McMillan
KP News
In early October, members of Key
Peninsula Middle School’s class on astronomy and
aerospace, under the tutelage of award-winning teacher
Kareen Borders, learned the essentials of flight and
what it takes to become a pilot and, ultimately, an
astronaut, from NASA’s Col. Warren Hall.
Hall flew in from Ames Research
Center out of Moffett Field, Calif. He was a Navy
fighter pilot, NASA test pilot, and an author of 73
technical reports, earning three international awards
for technical excellence. He talked with the eighth
grade students about his flying career and how he came
to be a test pilot.
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NASA's Col. Warren
Hall during the October presentation
in the school library.
Photo by Hugh McMillan
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“The aerospace students were
especially privileged to work with Col. Hall, a NASA
test pilot and published author,” Borders said.
Student Nikki Rossberg said about
the astronomy class, “I’m here because Mrs. Borders is
an awesome teacher… I knew nothing about astronomy and
space. Now I know it is great.”
Eighth-grader Drake Henderson said,
“I am planning to become a scientist and this class is
helping me understand science better. I’ve learned a lot
about flight that I could not have learned in any other
class.”
KPMS aerospace students study the
history of flight, explore the mechanics of flight,
investigate aerospace careers, are involved with NASA
experiments, and much more. Several of the students say
they hope to have a career in aerospace.
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The Key
Peninsula Middle School
had its official NASA kick-off ceremony
at the end of October. For details,
read the December issue of the
Key Peninsula News. |
“I love this class. Learning about
space and flight is fun,” said Marcus Henderson. “I want
to be an aeronautical engineer and this will really help
me and open a lot of doors.”
“I want to become a person who
works with telescopes and looks at the universe and many
other things,” Elizabeth Price said. “I want to get a
good scholarship in college. That way I can get a good
job.”
KPMS is the first NASA Explorer
School in Washington state. Earlier this year, Borders
was named the 2005 Teacher of the Year by the Air Force
Association’s McChord Chapter.
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News, all rights reserved.
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