Dec. 8, 2008 Tracy Young Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 tracy.g.young@nasa.gov RELEASE: 31-08 NASA PROVIDES UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR ORLANDO AREA STUDENTS CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - More than 2,500 eighth grade students attending Orange County Public Schools will travel to NASA's Kennedy Space Center the week of Dec. 15 to take part in the first Orange County Space Week. Kennedy's Education Office, in partnership with the center's visitor complex and Educator Resource Center, are hosting the visit. The program is designed to encourage students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. It is part of NASA's education strategy to attract and retain students in STEM disciplines. Orange County Space Week will feature activities designed to promote awareness of NASA's Constellation program. Orange County Public Schools will hold a news conference 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Howard Middle School, Orlando. Media interested in attending the event should contact Kathy Marsh, 407-317-3458 or 407-398-4362. News conference participants include: - Joie Cadle, chairman, Orange County Public School Board - Ronald Blocker, superintendent, Orange County Public Schools - Janet Petro, deputy director, NASA Kennedy Space Center - Gregg Buckingham, chief, Education Programs and University Research Division, NASA Kennedy Space Center - Jon McBride, former NASA astronaut Media interested in covering Orange County Space Week activities at Kennedy's Visitor Complex should contact Jillian McRae, 321-449-4273, jmcrae@dncinc.com or Lesley Llerandi, 321-449-4311, lllerandi@dncinc.com. For more information on NASA's education programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/education -end- To subscribe to the list, send a message to: ksc-subscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov To remove your address from the list, send a message to: ksc-unsubscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov
