Elementary Students to Visit NASA-KSC with Help of Gannett
Gannett Foundation/FLORIDA TODAY Funding to Florida's TRDA Sends Local Students to NASA

Titusville, Fla. - January 9, 2003 - Great news for the students of the Diamond Community school in Palm Bay and Saturn Elementary in Cocoa, it's time to SEE NASA.  Funding from the Gannett Foundation/FLORIDA TODAY will help bring more than 70 students from the local elementary schools who will participate in the Student Educational Experience at NASA or SEE NASA - organized by Florida's Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA) based in Titusville, Florida on February 19-20, 2003.  The participating schools were selected by Education Commissioner, Jim Horne.

SEE NASA introduces elementary students to the history and future of space exploration while emphasizing the importance of math and science.  Third through sixth grade students from Diamond Community school and fifth grade students from Saturn Elementary school will participate in the two-day program.  Prior to their trip to NASA-KSC, representatives from NASA will visit the schools and conduct pre-visit activities.  In addition to participating in fun educational activities such as building air rockets, Mad Mission to Mars and the Great Rocket Scavenger Hunt, students take workbooks back to the classroom.  These workbooks will help teachers maintain students' enthusiasm for math and science.

"Through programs such as SEE NASA, we help young people realize their dreams can become a reality.  Understanding the importance of science, math, and technology to space exploration, sparks a student's curiosity to learn and challenge themselves," says Michelle Peters, Education Director with the TRDA.

The Endeavour Academy, a teacher professional development organization, will provide special training sessions this summer to prepare teachers to better educate their students on the history and the future of space exploration.  The Endeavour Academy hopes to encourage teachers to use math, science, and technology in their classrooms, raise awareness among teachers of free resources and provide materials for easy incorporation into established curriculums.

The SEE NASA program supports the Governor's A+ Plan by offering a once-in-a-lifetime educational experience to students demonstrating improvement in FCAT scores.  SEE NASA has positively impacted the lives of more than 300 fifth and sixth graders, stretching from Hialeah to Quincy, Florida.  The SEE NASA program is funded through grants from the Florida Department of Education and is managed in joint partnership by NASA-Kennedy Space Center, Delaware North Park Services, and the TRDA.  The initiative is funded through the Florida Department of Education, revenue from sales of the Challenger license plate, and by grants from the Technological Research and Development Foundation.