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| Date: | 04/16/2008 |
| Title: | NASA Astronaut Leland Melvin inspires local scholars at National Technical Association awards ceremony |
| Category: | Spotlight |
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| Description: | NASA Astronaut Leland Melvin visited the Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) Wednesday, April 9th to give a presentation about his first trip into space as a member of the STS-122 crew, and to help honor local students for their hard work and scholarly achievement.
During his 13-day, 5.3 million mile mission, Melvin served as Mission Specialist-1 and operated the shuttle’s robotic arm in order to deliver the European Space Agency’s Columbus Laboratory.
The STS-122 crew blasted off on February 7, 2008, becoming the 24th Shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station. The crew engaged in three successful space walks to prepare the Columbus Laboratory for its scientific work and to replace an expended nitrogen tank on the Station’s P-1 Truss. STS-122 orbited Earth 203 times before returning to earth on February 20th.
Melvin is a co-manager of NASA’s Educator Astronaut Program and has traveled across the country to engage students and teachers in space exploration, and to encourage them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. His passion for educating youth scholars about the importance of education and the opportunities for which the fields of science, engineering, technology and mathematics can provide brought him to OAI.
OAI Vice President of Finance and Operations Tony Smith and Melvin presented a scholarship in honor of former Director of the NASA Glenn Research Center Dr. Julian M. Earls to Alexis Crosby of Glenville High School. The scholarship is sponsored by OAI and administered by the National Technical Association (NTA). It seeks to support college bound students who plan to enroll in math, science engineering, or IT degree programs and who have excelled in leadership and development activities.
Crosby is ranked first in her class at Glenville and an active volunteer. She is a member of the National Honor Society and has already received an Associates of Science degree from the High Tech Academy at Tri-C. Her work with the Clips Polymer Envoys Program at Case Western Reserve University (CASE Research Program for high school students) has given her a solid foundation to pursue a Polymer Engineering at Case in the fall.
Melvin, a member of NTA, and NASA Glenn Deputy Director for Safety and Mission Assurance Frank Robinson (past National President of NTA from 2002-2004), presented two scholarships on behalf of NTA to Zaneta Flowers of Lutheran High School East and Shawnathan Fort of East High School. The scholarship was established to support college bound students who intend to major in science and technology fields and to be given to students who are well rounded, exhibiting promise in academic, athletic and humanitarian pursuits.
Flowers received awards for perfect attendance, math, science, religion, and history. She has been actively involved with volunteer and after school activities including: newspaper, yearbook, drama club, softball, volleyball, and student council. She volunteers as a church youth group tutor, food bank service aid, and was a poll worker in the November 2006 elections. She will attend Bowling Green University and pursue a degree in Biology.
Fort is ranked second in his class and played football at East High School. He sought out a mentor in the Pharmaceutical field in order to gain hands-on experience and build a foundation that would help him on his educational journey. Fort plans to get a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Cincinnati.
President of the NTA Cleveland Chapter Lateef Saffore concluded the night by leaving the honorary students with a message of congratulations and that personified Melvin’s journey to becoming an astronaut: “Stay focused. Aim high. Reach for the stars.”
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Pictured left to right:
Lateef Saffore, President, NTA, Cleveland Chapter
Zaneta Flowers, Lutheran High School East, NTA Mallory Scholarship recipient
NASA Astronaut Leland Melvin
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Pictured left to right:
Lateef Saffore, President, NTA, Cleveland Chapter
Shawnathan Fort, East High School, NTA Mallory Scholarship recipient
NASA Astronaut Leland Melvin
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Pictured left to right:
Tony Smith, Sr., Vice President, Finance & Operations, OAI
Alexis Crosby, Glenville High School, Julian M. Earls Scholarship recipient
NASA Astronaut Leland Melvin |
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