Challenger Space Center Wins Prestigious Grant, Launches New Era in Arizona Science Education

Peoria, AZ, October 14, 2009 – In a ringing endorsement of the Challenger Space Center’s vital educational mission, Science Foundation Arizona has awarded a two-year, $500,000 grant to the CSC for an important new initiative:  establishing a Challenger Space Center North to provide STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education and resources to Northern Arizona pupils and educators.

Challenger Space Center North will be located in Flagstaff and will be built around a proprietary $750,000 spaceflight simulator provided by the CSC.  The mission of Challenger North will be to offer innovative experiential learning opportunities for K-12 pupils, outreach to rural communities, and high-quality professional educator development.  The Northern location will benefit from collaborations between the CSC and Flagstaff Unified School District, Northern Arizona University, STEMAz, and other stakeholders in both Central and Northern Arizona. 

“Expanding into Northern Arizona provides a wonderful new opportunity for the Challenger Space Center to continue inspiring children to develop a lifelong interest in the STEM skills,” said Mary Lynn Kelly, Executive Director of the Challenger Space Center of Arizona in Peoria.  “During these tough economic times, it is an honor to be chosen by Science Foundation Arizona for such a highly sought-after grant.  But, it is also evidence of the growth and stability that the Challenger Space Center has worked hard to achieve these past few years.” 

As part of the Challenger North expansion, Ms. Kelly will transition from her current role as Executive Director of the Peoria location to Executive Director of Challenger North, and will oversee the new program including installation of the spaceflight simulator and start-up operations.  Kelly’s tenure at the Peoria location will end in November 2009 and the search for a new Executive Director will be posted in the coming days.

Though Kelly is encouraged by the growth of Challenger Space Center and the potential to reach even more Arizona students, she remains cautiously optimistic about the impact of the economic crisis on nonprofit organizations in general.  “It takes the ongoing support of the entire community to keep our Center open, but we are certainly buoyed by the fact that Science Foundation Arizona has recognized our achievements and endorsed our programs by awarding us this valuable grant.”

Kelly added, “Our expansion into a statewide mode is just another example of how we plan to reach out to every child in Arizona and offer them a chance to explore and expound upon their natural curiosity of space and the universe.  The Challenger North partnerships illustrate the many natural connections being made as the state rallies behind the efforts to coordinate training in STEM skills for Arizona students.”

The Challenger Space Center is a world-class educational facility located in Peoria, AZ, that inspires visitors of all ages to develop a lifelong interest in math, science, technology, and space travel.  Its mission is to excite and educate people of all ages about the mysteries and wonders of space, science and the universe in which we live.