Scobee Grand Opening

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Scobee Grand Opening
Dr. June Scobee Rodgers signs copies of “Star Challengers: Space Station Crisis” for choir students from McAuliffe, McNair and Scobee middle
schools after the VIP grand opening Friday of Scobee Education Center. Scobee Rodgers contributed to the book written by Rebecca Moesta and
Kevin J. Anderson. E. David Guel
Nov. 4, 2014
Megan Stanley and Rebekah Corley, a former Palo Alto College student
take a “selfie” with a display astronaut suit Oct. 31 in the lobby of the
Scobee Education Center. Ian Coleman
Scobee Education Center opens to crowds, memorials
Local dignitaries and city leaders turn out to
see the new facility.
By Landon Penn
Facilities like the Scobee
Education Center will serve to
As this college’s brass
feed the interests of students
ensemble performed the in space, science and aeronational anthem Friday in the nautics, Hawes said.
Scobee Education Center’s
“We need that future workmemorial garden, Scobee force. It’s not the tools, it’s the
Elementary School students people using them, that put us
placed seven wreaths outin space,” Hawes said.
side the center’s entrance to
As a former teacher,
honor Challenger crew memRodgers said she was glad to
bers who died when the space
see so many resources dedishuttle exploded Jan. 28, 1986.
cated to further educating stu“We can draw strength
dents at this college where she
from their courage,” U.S. Rep. and Scobee actually met.
Lamar Smith said in his open“Because I was an educaing remarks at the grand opentor, I think he’d be pleased that
ing of the center after two years the Scobee Education Center
of planning and development.
honors both of us, both former
The center is named for San Antonio College students,”
Lt. Col. Francis “Dick” Scobee,
Rodgers said.
the Challenger’s commander
Former astronaut Eileen
and a former student of this Collins said she was glad to
college. It is home to the
see so many people taking an
Challenger Learning Center, interest in space exploration.
the Scobee Planetarium and
“STEM (Science, Techa main gallery, soon to be nology, Engineering and Math)
named after a donor.
is about creativity. This country
Scobee’s widow, Dr. June needs smart people to accept
Scobee Rodgers, attended
new challenges,” Collins said.
the ceremony, along with son
In 1995, Collins became
Richard Scobee and daughter
the first female to pilot a
Kathie Scobee Fulgam.
spacecraft.
“Dick Scobee would truly be
Dr. Robert Vela, president
over the moon about the opporof this college, said, “We had
tunities Challenger Center a lot of national figures takoffers to students, and proud ing part in this grand openthat it continues
ing, and we’re
the mission for
proud to have
View
his Challenger
them particithe slideshow
crew,” Rodgers
pate.”
on the
said. “He was
The
cermultimedia page.
a modest man,
emony ended
always passing
with
Vela,
tribute on to others.”
Scobee Rodgers and Charles
The
ill-fated
mission Cheever Jr. joining hands to
included Dr. W. Michael Hawes,
cut the ceremonial ribbon,
vice president and Orion proallowing about 200 guests to
gram manager at Lockheed explore the facilities.
Martin, who served in Mission
In the main gallery, visiControl as payload officer in tors enjoyed a Mark III photo
charge of deploying satellites.
suit, a replication of a Russian
Hawes said the mission space suit. Guests can open
was “made up of a fantastic the backpack of the suit and
crew,” which also included step inside for a photo.
Ellison Onizuka, Gregory
The gallery also includes
Jarvis, Judith Resnik, Michael
parts of the Shuttle Columbia’s
J. Smith and Ronald McNair. exterior, such as the foam
Unique to this mission was
insulator that struck the wing,
Christa McAuliffe, a schoolcausing it to ignite as it reteacher scheduled to transmit entered the atmosphere Feb.
lessons from space.
1, 2003.
[email protected]
„
Fifth grader Sofia Lynton, 10, illuminates the teeth of classmate Shaelyn Marks, 10, using a temperature reader gun with her hand in a glove box
in the space station during the VIP grand opening of Scobee Education Center Friday. Students from Scobee Elementary were selected for a field
trip to the center. E. David Guel
The shuttle burned up
over Texas, killing seven crew
members. Southwest Research
Institute donated those artifacts, along with an interstellar boundary explorer (IBEX),
space experiments with particle accelerators (SEPAC)
instrument and space electronics engineering units, said
Rick Varner, director of the
Scobee Education Center.
The long-awaited renovation of the planetarium,
which gained theater seating,
showed “Secret Lives of Stars,”
“Ultimate Universe,” “Violent
Universe” and “Attack of the
Space Pirates.”
The Challenger Learning
Center consists of Mission
Control, where students on
field trips can work in teams as
“astronauts” in the space station. The students first enter
a debriefing to understand
their mission and then are
transported through a flight
simulator before they start the
mission.
On Nov. 4, students from
Ed White Middle School will
be the first to go on a space
Marc Harrison, VIA board member, watches teachers, parents and students of Scobee Elementary experience
the Transporter 2 mission simulator Oct.31 in the Challenger Center during the grand opening of the Scobee
Education Center. The simulator features authentic take-off footage and vibrating seats for a realistic space
launch. Milena Arias
mission in the Challenger
Learning Center.
“I think it’s just wonderful,”
said Martha Castro, administrative assistant to David
Mrizek, vice president of college services. “It will benefit
our children for years to come.
It’s just an exciting time.”
Rodgers said her late husband would appreciate that
legacy.
“Most of all, he would be
pleased to know that the Scobee
Education Center will help
make a difference,” she said.
Andrew Hubbard, former president of the Student
Government Association, said
Rodgers “brought the human
element to the building.”
“(She) reminded us of the
importance of perseverance
and pushing forward,” he said.
The planetarium will have
three shows Nov. 7, 14 and
21: “Secret of the Cardboard
Rocket” at 6 p.m. for ages 4
and older, “The Sky Tonight”
at 7:30 p.m. and “Black Holes”
at 9 p.m., both for ages 6 and
older.
Admission for each show is
$2 with an Alamo Colleges ID,
$4 for seniors, $5 for adults 18
and older and $4 for children
ages 4 to 17.
For more information, call
the center at 210-486-0100.