Oct. 22, 2002 – The University of the Virgin Islands will celebrate its partnership with the National Aeronautics & Space Administration and bring awareness of space administration to the community through the NASA Awareness Days, to be held Nov. 17 to 20 on both campuses.
The United Negro College Fund Special Programs is administering the three days of exhibits, panel discussions, workshops and speeches by NASA astronauts. NASA exhibits from the Ames Research Center, Kennedy Space Flight Center, Glenn Research Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, and the Langley Research Center will be displayed, as will UVI student research posters and science fair projects.
"NASA Awareness Days will be an excellent opportunity for local educators, students and professionals to receive updated information on space education, technology and research methodology," Dr. Rosenid Hernandez-Badia, program coordinator and UVI science professor, said. "Students will learn that there are no limits to their career choices, that they have opportunities to accomplish their goals with hard work."
A highlight of the NASA Awareness Days will be the grand opening of the NASA Educator Resource Center at the Etelman House, home to UVI’s space observatory on St. Thomas, from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 19. UVI President Dr. LaVerne Ragster will sign a memorandum of agreement with NASA for its support of the Educator Resource Center.
NASA has awarded grants to UVI’s Science and Math Division for many years, with the most recent being a $150,000 grant to support the Saturday and Summer Science Academies held on both campuses.
NASA Awareness Days are common at institutions around the world where NASA supports programs. It is the first time that NASA Awareness Days are being held in the Virgin Islands.
Other highlights of NASA Awareness Days include:
– A press conference from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Nov. 18 in the Sports and Fitness Center on St. Thomas.
– A NASA welcome from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Nov. 18 in the Sports and Fitness Center. A NASA astronaut will give the keynote address. Remarks will be made by Dr. Mabel Jones Matthews, George Reese and Dr. Carl Person of NASA; Carolyn Knowles of UNCFSP; along with Delegate to Congress Donna Christian Christensen, Dr. Ragster, and Dr. Camille McKayle, principal investigator of the Saturday and Summer Science Academies grant.
– A press conference from 10 to10:45 a.m. Nov. 19 in the Melvin Evans Center Room 505 on the St. Croix Campus.
– A NASA welcome from 11 a.m. to noon Nov. 20 in the Melvin Evans Center Room 401. Remarks will be made by Dr. Mabel Jones Matthews, George Reese and Dr. Carl Person of NASA; Carolyn Knowles of UNCFSP; along with Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen, Dr. Ragster, St. Croix Science and Mathematics Division Chairwoman Dr. Velma Tyson, and Dr. Camille McKayle, principal investigator of the Saturday and Summer Science Academies grant.
Students, educators, professionals and the general public are invited to attend the NASA Awareness Days on the St. Thomas campus. Groups must register with Hernandez-Badia. For more information or to register for the events on St. Thomas, call Hernandez-Badia at 693-1383.
Students from public and private schools will be invited to attend the NASA Awareness Days on the St. Croix campus. For more information about the events on St. Croix, call Kichma Nieves at 692-4150.
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