NASA Astronaut (Retired) Barbara Morgan visited the College of Western Idaho (CWI) on Oct. 23, to speak with students in the Astronomy Club and Chemistry Club. In 2007, the former teacher was part of the crew on STS-118 Space Shuttle mission on the Endeavour and spent time working onboard the International Space Station.
Morgan had an intimate conversation with students answering many questions about her experiences in space, on the shuttle, and on the space station. She also spoke highly of the education available through school like CWI, "Community colleges are the cornerstone of higher education and our democracy. There is no better place to find great teaching," said Morgan. She also encouraged students in pursuit of their own goals, “I am proud of the CWI students and what a treat it was for me to get to engage with them."
Prior to becoming a NASA astronaut, Morgan taught second, third, and fourth graders at McCall Donnelly Elementary School in McCall, Idaho from 1979 to 1998. That school now bears her name.
During that time, she also participated in the Teacher in Space program as backup to Christa McAuliffe for the 1986 ill-fated mission of the Space Shuttle Challenger. The visit was also made more special as one of Morgan's former 3rd graders, Justin Vance, now Dean of CWI's School of Arts and Humanities, was able to attend and the two were able to reconnect. Vance likes to joke that "half the things he knows he learned in 3rd grade" which he says is not far from the truth because Morgan was such an amazing and inspiring teacher.
Christina Whitmore and Emily McIntier are the Faculty Advisors for the Chemistry Club and Stephanie Sevigny is the Faculty Advisor for the Astronomy Club. Kae Jensen, Dean, Science Technology and Math said of the occasion, “I am so excited when we can pair such strong community leaders with our CWI students. I offer my thanks to Barbara Morgan and the faculty who coordinated this event for making it possible.”
