For the fifth consecutive year, Wheeling Jesuit University's (WJU) Challenger Learning Center (CLC) has been honored for having served the most children of the 41 Centers in the Network through there Challenger Center programs.

In addition, the CLC was recognized for giving guidance and support of other emerging Challenger Learning Centers. June Scobee Rodgers, the founding chairperson of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, and Joe Allen, board president and retired astronaut, recently presented the awards to WJU's CLC Education Director Nancy Sturm and Lead Flight Directors Kathy Blass and Mark Lindsay during the annual Challenger Learning Center Conference in Alexandria, Va.

Sturm said the award for "motivating and inspiring" the most students was based on the number of school missions conducted from the Center. Sturm noted the e-Missions were not included in the tally. WJU's CLC has received this award for five of the seven years of its existence. The "Guiding Star Award" was given to the Center for guidance and support to our CLC emerging sites and for the dedication, direction and positive programming that WJU's CLC contributes to the CLC network.

"Seven years ago when our doors opened the goal was to improve how teachers teach and how students learn in the state of West Virginia. With the development of quality programming through the Challenger Learning Center, we've been able to meet and exceed our goal," Sturm said, not only statewide but across the nation. "Through Christa McAuliffe's inspiration and dedication to education, we've been able to help keep the dream of teaching from space alive."