The Consortium made the announcement Thursday at the Dothan Campus. NASA Mission Specialist Doug Wheelock joined the press conference via videoconference. Dr. Jack Hawkins, Troy University chancellor, and the Honorable Terry Everett, United States congressman, were also on hand, along with local dignitaries and K-8 educators and administrators.

Endeavor will leave the Earth’s atmosphere on August 9. The STS-118 shuttle mission will carry basil seeds into orbit, along with the first teacher astronaut, Barbara Morgan.

Through the efforts of the Consortium, some of the basil seeds will make their way to Wiregrass classrooms. Children in Andalusia, Dothan, Enterprise, Eufaula and Ozark City schools, along with those enrolled at Henry and Houston County schools, will have the opportunity to conduct growth experiments using the seeds. So will students in science classes at Troy University.

Research on a Wiregrass specialty may also be possible. Wheelock is working to bring locally grown peanuts on board STS-120, which is scheduled to lift off on October 20. The astronaut also plans to communicate with area children via e-mail during his eleven-day stay aboard Discovery.

“The key element missing in our children is their belief in themselves,” Wheelock said. “It is important to show them that it doesn’t matter if they are a boy or a girl or what the color of their skin is. What matters is the passion within. That is what we are tying to bring back to the classroom.”

Wheelock will carry a Troy University flag into Space during his upcoming mission. Once back on Earth, he plans to visit TROY to meet with educators and share observations about his flight, according to Consortium Co-director Sandy Armstrong.

“There is no other program in the State of Alabama like the Consortium,” Armstrong said. “It gives teachers the unique opportunity to conduct experiments and network with scientists, engineers and astronauts.”

Based on the Dothan Campus, the Consortium is funded by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. Its mission is to inspire area teachers to fuel student interest in math and science. The Consortium provides classroom resources and educational enhancement for K-8 educators.

For more information about the Wiregrass Math & Science Consortium, contact Sandy Armstrong or Christina Johnson at Troy University at (334) 983-6556

Dr. Jack Hawkins, Troy University chancellor, talks about the importance of math and science education, during a press conference on the Dothan Campus. The University’s Wiregrass Math and Science Consortium is working closely with Astronaut Doug Wheelock (pictured on the videoconference monitors) to inspire students in Southeast Alabama.

During a press conference at Troy University, NASA Mission Specialist Doug Wheelock listens in via videoconference as U.S. Congressman Terry Everett talks about the importance of the nation’s space program. At the event, the Wiregrass Math and Science Consortium announced plans to help link area K-8 teachers and students to upcoming space shuttle missions.