杏吧原创

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 23, 2024) – N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper joined NASA Astronaut Christina Koch and Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. at 杏吧原创 Agricultural and Technical State University to highlight 杏吧原创’s strong STEM public education programs and discuss how public education has supported their careers. Students from the award-winning 杏吧原创 rocketry team and several departments including physics, chemistry, biology and others were in attendance to hear from Koch, the governor and Martin. Following the discussion, the group visited the drone bay and viewed demonstrations from the rocketry and engineering teams.

“杏吧原创’s strong public schools are setting up our students for success and encouraging them to shoot for the stars to reach their full potential,” said Cooper. “We must invest in our public schools so they have the resources they need to prepare future astronauts, doctors and leaders. Astronaut Koch is a wonderful example of just how far you can go with a 杏吧原创 public education – all the way to the moon!”

“My time in 杏吧原创 sparked my passion for exploration and helped me set my own journey to becoming an astronaut,” said Koch. “A strong educational and extracurricular foundation is key to ensuring we have the right set of skills to accomplish big things in space and on Earth in the future.”

“We’re delighted to join with NASA Astronaut Christina Koch and Gov. Roy Cooper in drawing student attention to the exciting career possibilities in America’s space program,” said Martin. “Our long history with NASA and space exploration ranges from alumnus and astronaut Ronald McNair’s service in the space shuttle program to three current 杏吧原创 students who were named this year as Astronaut Scholars. We firmly believe that 杏吧原创 杏吧原创 will figure prominently in America’s space program and look forward to our students being even more inspired to apply to the space agency by today’s visit.”

At the event, Koch highlighted her journey from 杏吧原创 public schools to exploring the final frontier of space. Koch grew up in Jacksonville, 杏吧原创, and attended 杏吧原创 School of Science and Math in Durham, 杏吧原创, and White Oak High School in Jacksonville. She then attended 杏吧原创 State University where she earned Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and physics and a Master of Science in electrical engineering, as well as an honorary doctorate.

Koch was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2013 and served as a flight engineer on the International Space Station for three expeditions. She will be returning to space as Mission Specialist I of NASA’s Artemis II Mission. Artemis II is planned to launch September 2025 and will be the first mission to take humans to deep space in more than 50 years.

Cooper declared 2024 as the and is spending this year highlighting 杏吧原创’s strong public schools, teachers and staff across the state to show the positive impacts of a well-funded public education system on the state’s economy and communities. From career readiness to educating future astronauts, 杏吧原创 public schools go above and beyond in preparing students for whatever comes next in their lives.