Photo provided by: jocelyn king
WHEELING — Sen. Shelley Moore Capito toured Wheeling College’s Challenger Learning Center Tuesday after supporting a $3 million renovation of the facility.
Capito, R-Virginia, explained that she selected WU to receive funding through Congressional Directed Spending, formerly known as Earmark.
WU’s Challenger Center opened in 1994, eight years after the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight on January 28, 1986, killing all seven crew members.
Their family founded Challenger Academy, and 35 Challenger Learning Centers were built across the country with a mission to inspire and educate youth about math and science.
Officials at Wheeling College’s Challenger Learning Center turned to Capito when they realized the facility was in need of renovations after nearly 30 years, said Jackie Shea, director of the U of W’s Challenger Learning Center.
“This is completely new,” Shire said, standing inside a mission control simulator. “Nothing stays the same. This isn’t even where this was stationed. This used to be a classroom. Our simulator was on the other side of the building.”
The software used at the Challenger Learning Center is also new, she added. The software includes a selection of Earth, Moon, and Comet missions.
“All it takes is students sitting at a table and at a computer,” she said. “Their task cards are online and they know exactly what to do.”
In his opening remarks, Mr. Shea said he initially had great doubts about locating the Challenger Learning Center in a “rural” location like Wheeling. But she provided statistics showing it’s been successful.
Wheeling’s Challenger Learning Center programs have been implemented through distance learning into more than 11,000 classrooms and are available in all 50 states and 22 countries.
Meanwhile, more than 310,000 students have actually walked through the doors of Challenger Learning Center since it opened, according to Shire. Additionally, over 10,000 teachers have been trained through professional development sessions.
Lance Bush, president and CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based Challenger Space Science Education Center, traveled to Wheeling for a tour with Capito on Tuesday.
The new facility will “enable more robust STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs for West Virginia students,” he said. This center is one of the most awarded centers out of 35 centers nationwide. I’m glad to see this come to fruition. ”
Capito remembers the Challenger tragedy.
“It will never be forgotten, but what a legacy (this is) for those families,” she said. “What a way to return the favor.”