Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 1, 1997
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  David Brine at the Secretary of State's Office, 360-753-2526

Locke, science students to receive plaque from Washington state astronaut

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke and several 8th grade students from a science class at Olympia's Reeves Middle School will accept a special gift from NASA on Wednesday, April 2, in the governor's office.


A plaque will be presented at 10 a.m. by Commander Charles E. Brady, Jr., a NASA astronaut from the state of Washington who flew on a record-breaking shuttle mission from June 20 until July 7, 1996. The centerpiece of the plaque is a Washington state flag Commander Brady carried onboard the Shuttle Columbia during a mission that lasted longer than any previous shuttle flight. Brady's official host at the state capitol is Secretary of State Ralph Munro.


Locke said that without strong science education programs across the country, we wouldn't have a space program racking up the kinds of successes that we're able to celebrate this week. "I am delighted that a group of science students will join me in accepting this special award on behalf of the state," he said. "When it comes to education, science and the space program, the common denominator is our children's future."


The shape of the future, however, is changing so rapidly that past successes won't guarantee future achievements, Locke maintained. "That's why it so important to raise academic standards in science, and to design more accurate science tests to help ensure students really understand the core concepts of the sciences," Locke said.


The students joining Locke for the presentation are just concluding an astronomy unit in their science class at Reeves. Commander Brady is a highly accomplished Navy medical doctor who lives near Deception Pass in Island County. He was flight surgeon for the Navy's Blue Angels and has served as deputy chief for space shuttle astronaut training for NASA, among other assignments.

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