Dream Tour Visits Brittany Woods
May 27, 2008
First African American astronaut to walk in space helps middle school students achieve dreams
Dr. Bernard Harris, the first African-American astronaut to walk in space, brought his national “Dream Tour” program to Brittany Woods Middle School on May 22. The school was the fourth and only St. Louis area stop on event's 10 city tour. He, along with ExxonMobile engineer Thomas P. Cass and Bell Networks owner and radio personality Ken Bell spoke with seventh and eighth grade students during grade-level assemblies. Their energetic anecdotes and messages provided a powerful backdrop to students about reaching for the stars as well as their own personal potential through the problem-solving skills they learn in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
From humble beginnings in San Antonio, Harris said he fulfilled his dreams of first becoming a medical doctor and later an astronaut, with hard work and tenacity. Through his "Dream Tour," which is presented by the ExxonMobile Foundation, Harris is inspiring young people around the U.S. to believe in themselves. The tour also provides improved tools for teachers to deliver more engaging classroom activities.
Throughout his presentation, Harris and his fellow speakers
stressed that strong mathematics and science coursework are keys to
unlocking the future and providing skill sets that are needed to
succeed in the 21st century.
Dressed in a royal blue flight suit, Harris detailed the years of
training he endured in preparation for his two journeys into space.
He was a mission specialist on Spacelab and later became a payload
commander on the shuttle Columbia for the first flight of the joint
Russian-American program. It was during that flight, he became the
first African American to walk in space. Overall, he is among only
50 astronauts, including cosmonauts, to have such an honor.
During the assembly, Harris presented seventh graders Andre Thomas
and Dominique Turner along with eighth graders Keyla Brown and
Jarran Gibbons with a special recognition award for being the most
improved students in science and mathematics during the 2007-08
school year at Brittany Woods.
Following the event, seventh graders Brittany Cole, Jayl’n
Dunlap-Thompson, Miah Hayes, Matt Looby, Dan Polittle, Kayla
Pruitt, John Smith, Anna Soifer, Jacob Stueck, Jovonte’ Suber,
Shandrea White and Shawn Whitley along with eighth graders Quartez
Corzart, Chelsea Crawford, Albert Marshal, Ellen McCray, Ruby
Porter, Emmanuel Price, Salena Shaw and Alex Yentumi were selected
to meet with Harris. The students asked more detailed questions
about his life and being an astronaut.
Harris said he is dedicated to supporting and nurturing students to
success in the areas of mathematics, science, technology and
engineering. That supports extends to Brittany Woods as well
through the "Dream Tour's" website at www.theharrisfoundation.org,
which features online curriculum and professional development for
teachers as well as email homework help for students.
Click the link below to view the Dream Tour slide show.
