Students Send Condolences to NASA
Space exploration class gathers signatures, notes to commemorate loss of space shuttle crew.By Emily Berg/Staff Writer ~ The Daily Press
APPLE VALLEY — Colorful signatures, endearing notes and drawings of astronauts and the space shuttle fill sheets of white paper commemorating the loss of space shuttle Columbia's crew members. Story Photo
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Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer Devon Rader, a student at the Academy for Academic Excellence in Apple Valley, signs a condolence book Tuesday to commemorate the loss of space shuttle Columbia's crew members. The school plans to send the book to NASA. |
After two days of collecting contributions, students at the Academy for Academic Excellence had about 150 signatures in their condolences book they plan to send to NASA.
The book was put together by the students in Patty Rifkin's space exploration class at the charter school associated with the Lewis Center for Educational Research.
On Tuesday, Devon Rader sat with the book and called out to anyone who entered the charter school's library to sign it.
Rader, an eighth-grader in Rifkin's class, said he enjoyed manning the table and telling other students about the project.
"It shows that the nation actually cares," Rader said.
When the space shuttle disintegrated on Feb. 1 over Texas, 16 minutes before it was expected to land, Ryan Cartony felt a personal loss.
Cartony, a 10th-grader, said he's always planned on joining the U.S. Air Force and someday working with NASA. Signing the book was the least he could do
"Anything to help console their friends or family members, I'd be willing to do," he said.
Rifkin has taught space exploration courses for at least seven years. She hopes to give her students the lifelong passion for astronomy she has acquired.
"This generation were babies when the Challenger exploded. I'm kind of hoping out of this tragedy kids will say, 'This is something we can become involved in,' " Rifkin said.
Rifkin said she reminds her students that NASA has a lot of support jobs — it's not just for astronauts.
Classes and students must have their entries in by Friday. Next week, Rifkin's students will put the book together and hopefully send it to NASA.
Ashley Quinett, an 11th-grader, signed the book during her lunch period on Tuesday.
"They (the astronauts' friends and families) deserve our thoughts and prayers," Quinett said.
Used with permission by Daily Press, Freedom Communication, 2003