Bellbrook Middle School's 8th grade Kids 'n Science Club members recently attended the National Museum of the United States Air Force, AFRL, and the WPAFB Educational Outreach Office's free daytime screening of Hidden Figures. They were accompanied by the club advisors, Miss Jennifer St. Pierre and Mrs. Cathy St. Pierre. Students were inspired by the choices, influences, and contributions of these determined young women to our early space program.Following this living history film, students were treated with the presentation of the guest speaker, former NASA Administrator and Astronaut. Col. Frederick Gregory, USAF Ret. He shared his early beginnings and the career changes throughout his life. One message students like is to follow your dreams and believe you CAN achieve what you set as your goals. Also, we need to be willing to make changes along the way. Frederick Gregory's career involved logging more than 6,976 hours of flight times in over 50 types of aircraft including 500 combat missions in Vietnam. He was an operational test pilot flying fighters and helicopters. Gregory was selected as an astronaut in 1978 and has logged over 455 hours in space piloting STS-51B and as spacecraft commander on STS-33 and STS-44. He served NASA headquarters as Associate Administrator for the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance, Associate Administrator for the Office of Space Flight, and NASA Deputy Administrator.
Astronaut Col. Frederick Gregory, shared his personal insights and experiences working at NASA and his friendship with Katherine Johnson, who is featured in this film. Students were inspired with the messages of determination and success in Hidden Figures., and with Col. Frederick Gregory's life journeys and his friendship with Katherine Johnson in his work with NASA.
