|
WJU Freshman Credits Challenger Learning
Center Mission for College Choice
|
It was 1997 and the mission was Rendezvous With A Comet.
Kirstin Williams, a student from Western Pennsylvania's
Cecil Middle School was visiting the Challenger Learning
Center (CLC). She acted as a mission specialist to launch
a scientific probe from the Space Station. Little did
she know her experience at the CLC would have an impact
on her future.
Williams, now a WJU freshman, attributes her choice to
attend Wheeling Jesuit University to her experience at
the CLC. "When I was looking at schools my junior
year in high school I received a letter from Wheeling
Jesuit and remembered the experience at the Challenger
Learning Center," Williams said. "I narrowed
my college choices down to three schools and decided Wheeling
Jesuit was the best school because of what I have in mind
for my future."
A Laut scholar, Williams is a double major in physics
and computer science and she plans to attend graduate
school to study aerospace engineering. "My dream
is to work for NASA someday," Williams said.
Williams said other schools offered connections to NASA
through alumni or an internship, but did not have the
NASA affiliation that WJU does. "That really made
a difference, because at Wheeling Jesuit NASA is real.
It's here now," Williams said.
Not only did Williams return to WJU as a student, she
is also employed at the CLC. "During the admissions
process I talked with the admissions counselor about working
at the Challenger Center and once I got to Wheeling Jesuit
I was really excited when I saw that the Challenger Center
had jobs for students available," Williams said,
adding she has been working on editing web pages utilized
for the e-Missions. "I would love to help run a mission
some day. The simulator still has that magical feeling.
It makes you feel like you're really at Mission Control."
Williams said she believes doing the CLC mission was a
very valuable experience. "It's a good program, especially
for the middle school age group. I was kind of floundering
about my future and the mission helped me to decide which
direction to go," Williams said. "I will never
forget it. It was so real. That's what sticks out in my
mind. I have a lot of fond memories from that trip."
|
