A Friday Night in Dallas in March 2026Scholarship winners were asked to attend the Girls in Aviation Day at the Women in Aviation Conference in Dallas, Texas. We would receive our Flight Jackets, Backpacks, and Scholarships during an award ceremony at the Girls in Aviation Day on Saturday. So travel arrangements were made and off we went to Dallas.
Friday night, I was able to meet my students and a parent during a casual dinner at Dimassi's Mediterranean Buffet in Dallas. As I was able to visit with the parents of my students and the directors of the Endeavour Scholarship Foundation, the students were given time to talk and get to know each other. They will be working together and represent the USA at Space Camp this summer. After dinner, we had a team meeting at the hotel and develop a plan for Saturday at the conference. 1st Task - Create a Mission PatchBefore the mission takes off for Space Camp this summer, our first group assignment is to design a patch that uniquely distinguishes and expresses the purpose of your mission. Mission patches are a traditional, collectible emblem of a flight, and they are prominently attached to the crew’s flight suits — the patch represents your crew, your mission, and your country, so design it together as a team. There are six (6) required design elements for your Mission Patch: 1. The team’s name as “Endeavour 31” 2. The USA flag (or representation of it) 3. At least one iconic symbol of your country (ex.: national animal, symbol, monument, etc.) 4. The family name of each student displayed alphabetically 5. A maximum of 9 colors 6. Representation of Al Worden Class of 2025 Mission PatchesIt's that time again - it's Selfie Math time. The assignment was handed out this week and the due date is April 17.
After the New Year, the emailman delivered an email to my emailbox, I wasn't expecting. The message told me that, if interested, they would like to consider me for something extra - the Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship. If I was selected (after a virtual interview) for the all-inclusive scholarship, I would be the American teacher who leads a team of five or six exceptional students in an exclusive version of Space Camp. Six more teams from around the world would also attend. Hello! This email is being sent to a select few students and educators that have applied for a Summer 2026 Space Camp scholarship. Thank you so much for applying! We would like to offer you an enhanced Camp experience by providing your name and information to the Endeavor Scholarship, Mission Team USA. This program, partnered with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation, is selecting 2 students and 1 educator to join Mission Team USA in their 2026 Camp experience. Teams from Australia, Chile, the UAE, the UK and Ukraine will also be attending. This opportunity does involve travel. There is a trip to Dallas, TX on March 19-21 that you will be required to attend and then Camp that will be in Huntsville from July 23 to August 1. All travel and camp expenses are covered by the Endeavor Scholarship program. Was I interested? Yes, I was! Very Interested!
While on our Thanksgiving break (2025), I was researching teacher opportunities and found the Space Academy for Educators. After talking with Dale about the opportunity, I began the process of filling out the application. Part of the initial application to be considered for a teacher scholarship for Space Camp, I had to write a 300-word maximum essay (How do you write anything in only 300 words?). The prompt I was asked to address was: My essay: I've had enough of two-dimensional learning. I strive to be that different teacher, the maverick who doesn't play by rules of tradition. I invest extra effort to make meaningful connections with students and the things they are learning. Space Academy will animate our studies even more. Focusing on literacy, administrators and legislators have relegated other subjects into the corner. Instead of ignoring that dynamic, I choose to seek more understanding, create my own materials and relevant lessons, and curate and blend ideas from a variety of sources, going beyond the printed page. My lessons connect students' current and future lives. The future is unknown. Artificial Intelligence, robotics, and breaking boundaries of current wisdom can only be advanced through a diverse education that no longer isolates Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. As a traditional science and math educator, there are holes in my programming that will be filled with knowledge and strategies acquired at the Academy. Upon completion, I will more accurately interact with and integrate honest methods and relevant tools in my rigorous classroom. It’s difficult to imagine the difficulties and horizons of space exploration by scanning photos online. Space Academy will allow me to experience history that fascinated me as a child. I will collaborate with dedicated educators from different regions of our planet and meet professionals who can communicate with people who are not specialists but who still have a rich interest in the subject. I will wear out this year's class, talking about the upcoming Space Academy, until they anticipate it with as much excitement as I do. Students who have an excited and motivated teacher are apt to retain more. This teacher's attitude is contagious. I am already packed, eager to get my hands dirty, and ready to partner with Space Academy for this quest. We're heading to the Women in Aviation International Conference this month, and on March 21 we’ll proudly celebrate Mission Team 31, USA, at the Endeavour Scholarship Award Ceremony. These incredible scholars will go on to U.S. Space & Rocket Center's Space Camp this July! We're honored to be joined by our Mission Ambassador Theresa Claiborne at this event, the first black female pilot in the U.S. Air Force, whose trailblazing legacy is a testament to everything the Endeavour Scholarship stands for. We cannot wait to officially welcome Mission Team 31, USA, into the Endeavour family! It is a WRAP!Students have worked hard, presentations are complete, and the website is live! YEA! Until next year (ok, it will start in late 2026)!(click image below to go and view all the projects)
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