A Pretty Powerful Update to the Official SSEP In Our Own Words Page

At this SSEP National Blog, we recently began posting “In Our Own Words” essays from the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) leadership around the nation, providing insight into what this program has meant to the participating students, teachers, families, and communities. The idea for these special posts grew from interest expressed by the leadership in having a medium for more in-depth expression than what is provided on the formal SSEP In Our Own Words page at the SSEP Community Network Hubsite.

Given the In Our Own Words page was created before the STS-135 opportunity was even announced, we recently asked if the SSEP Community Network would be interested in contributing additional entries to this special page. We received a flood of feedback, with entries from teachers, students, and community leadership, as well as partner organizations underwriting the program in their State and community. Below are the new entries that have just been added to the In Our Own Words page. On this revised page we have also included links to the In Our Own Words essays.

In my 30 years in science education, I have never seen such a broad and potent set of accolades for a STEM education initiative. It is a testament to the stunningly capable team of folks across this great nation that are making this program possible. On behalf of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education and NanoRacks, a special thank you to all the teachers, administrators, parents, funders, and organizational partners that have made SSEP possible for the thousands of students—we as a team—are  inspiring to reach for the stars.

We will continue to post new In Our Own Words page entries as we receive them, and new In Our Own Words essays here at the Blog.

It is not often that an opportunity like SSEP comes along, with such an opportunity to create a lasting legacy for students, communities, and the nation. As the Director of the Indiana Space Grant Consortium, I am honored and humbled to support this worthy addition to Indiana’s legacy of spaceflight and exploration; as someone who has had a passion for space since I was six, I am excited for, and in awe of, what the students from Avicenna Academy in Crown Point are accomplishing so early in their lives.
—Barrett S. Caldwell, Ph.D.
Professor, Schools of Industrial Engineering / Aeronautics & Astronautics
Director, Indiana Space Grant Consortium
Purdue University

The NASA Maryland Space Grant Consortium has been delighted to provide support for two Maryland school districts, one on STS-134 and one on STS-135. Providing this kind of life-changing opportunity to students is what keeps up energized to come to work every morning. We have been reading your posts and love the enthusiasm.
—Terry Teays, PhD.
Assistant Director, Maryland Space Grant Consortium
Johns Hopkins University

I have been an educator for 27 years, and have never had an experience like this one. It has been very exciting. Being part of this program has allowed me to work with students outside the classroom and see their excitement in learning science for the love of the subject. I have had the opportunity to work with an awesome group of students, educators, industry (people form PerkinElmer), and the media. The support of the Shelton Public Schools has been great.
—Mary Clark, Shelton High School Science Curriculum Leader
Shelton, Connecticut

This research experience has simply been incredible. Researching possible topics to study, competing for grant money and a space on Endeavour, and actually conducting the experiment has truly been an experience like none other; this STEM initiative forces students to think critically, hypothesize, and analyze data. We are truly appreciative of this experience and of all that has been offered to us. We appreciate all the support we have received from the community and the school system. I think it’s great that students are being introduced to science at such a young age. We are now analyzing our data and our preliminary findings do show some differences between the bacteria grown on Earth and in Space. Thank you, SSEP!
—Omar Sobh 12th grader at Shelton High School and SSEP Flight Experiment Winner
Shelton, Connecticut

SSEP allowed our students to be apart of Endeavour’s last mission. This is something we will remember and treasure for the rest of our lives.
—Lenecia McCrary, Magnet Coordinator, Crystal Lake Middle School
SSEP Community Program Director, Broward County, Florida

What an awe-inspiring experience to see the brightest of students, the most invested teachers and parents, a very persistent and dedicated NCESSE director and staff, and generous donors in the Space Flight community come together to take everyday learning and transform it into one of the greatest learning opportunities of a lifetime. I am amazed at the energy and momentum that has prevailed throughout the entire SSEP experience by all of those involved, and I am confident that our students have gained valuable tools and life lessons that will help them continue to exceed the boundaries in learning.
—Allison Spencer, Canyons School District Education Foundation, Utah

SSEP is the best real life application program that my students have ever experienced!
—Alison Thammovongsa, 7th grade science teacher, Peoria Unified School District
SSEP Community Program Director, Peoria, Arizona

From the beginning, I recognized what a wonderful opportunity SSEP would be for our students. It has been a joy to see how animated and engaged they were through each step of this journey. The students that have participated in SSEP have not only greatly increased their knowledge of specific scientific content and scientific methodologies, but they have increased confidence which is exhibited through their communications with fellow students, teachers and even professors at the universities that we have visited. Our ability to participate in SSEP has been a gift to our students and all educators who have helped facilitate this project. And we are all eagerly awaiting the Shuttle Atlantis’ last launch.
—Amanda Arceo, Principal, Avicenna Academy
SSEP Community Program Director, Crown Point, Indiana

This whole thing is so unbelievable. We are doing real science research that really matters. What we design will really fly in space aboard the very last space shuttle mission. This could be a life-changer for me. It is something that I will someday tell my grandkids about. How cool!
—Isaac Jepsen, Senior, Ridge View High School, Galva-Holstein, Iowa

The experience is awe-inspiring. What a fantastic opportunity to exhibit the strength of our students, school system, and nation.
—Scott Hangey, Director of Science Instruction and Program Development
Charles County Public Schools
SSEP Community Program Co-Director, Charles County, Maryland

Per aspera ad astra is a Latin phrase which means “Through hardships to the stars”. Once a motto for NASA, it is now proudly emboldened on the tee-shirts of students, parents, families, teachers, administrators, and supporters of the Bridgewater-Raritan High School community who will attend the final and historic mission of the space shuttle program. These words truly capture the passion and dedication of a community that believes great things can be achieved through hard work, perseverance and the power of human collaboration.
—Jorge Valdes, Science Teacher, Bridgewater-Raritan High School
SSEP Community Program Director, Bridgewater-Raritan, New Jersey

We are so proud that our students have gotten a chance to participate in this historic final space shuttle flight. It has been an inspiring journey for our entire school community and has fostered a more accurate understanding of scientific inquiry than could have been gotten from any other lesson.
—Kori Milroy, Science Teacher, Skinner West Classical, Fine Arts, & Technology School
Chicago Public Schools
SSEP Community Program Director, Chicago, Illinois