BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — A Boynton Beach middle school is honoring an astronaut who lost her life 40 years ago in the Challenger space shuttle explosion.
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Christa McAuliffe Middle School in Boynton Beach held assemblies on Wednesday for students featuring an Florida Atlantic University astronomer and former NASA staff member who helped with the Apollo missions. Their goal is to continue the story of McAuliffe and the passion she had to bring space exploration back into the classroom.
Christa McAuliffe was a school teacher in New Hampshire and was selected as the first civilian teacher to fly in space as part of NASA's space shuttle program. The Boynton Beach school opened the same year as the explosion, and the community chose to name the campus in her honor.
Staff and students listened to scientists about the importance of space exploration during the special assemblies.
"Her dream was to bring space back into classroom when she returned to make learning exciting and real and to show students that curiosity has no limits," said Ronnie Grayson, principal of Christa McAuliffe Middle School.
The middle school also welcomed back some of its first teachers for a banquet reunion.
State
NASA marks 40th anniversary of Challenger tragedy
Grayson recalled watching the tragedy unfold as a student.
"I was in ninth grade English class, they rolled the TV's in to watch the launch Jan. 28, 1986, and I recall sitting there in the front of the row in the right hand side of the classroom when liftoff took place, and exploded. It was immediate sadness and shock," Grayson said. "We are proud to say we carry that namesake and her legacy on every single day that we set foot on this campus."
Shawn Aubrey, administrative assistant to the principal who has worked at the school for 18 years, also witnessed the explosion firsthand from Federal Highway in Boynton Beach.
Aubrey explained why it was important for NASA and FAU astronomers to speak to current students.
"These kids weren't even born yet, so they don't even know half of this, so it's good to keep the memory alive, keep the story alive and for them to keep reaching for the stars," Aubrey said.
