Last week, at a news conference held at the Barbers Point Elementary School, Hawai`i Lt. Governor Aiona announced that the state of Hawai’i has obtained $250,000 in federal funding for Challenger Center Hawai’i. Challenger Center Hawai’i had originally lost its funding as the result of budget cuts by the Board of Education.

Challenger Center Hawai’i is located on the Barbers Point Elementary School campus in Kapolei and has been in operation since April 1993.

According to an official press release, Lt. Governor Aiona said “The funding allows the Challenger Center to continue instilling in students a real interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) – subjects that are keys to Hawai’i’s economic vitality and competitiveness.”
The funding that was obtained comes from the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, Part B which is part of the Recovery Act passed by Congress earlier this year.

The press release goes on to note that Gail Awakuni, from the Hawai’i’s Department of Education, said that she sought Lt. Governor Aiona’s help with obtaining the funds “because of the Challenger Center’s role in opening doors to science careers.” She noted “one of our graduates told me he was inspired to pursue a career in aeronautical engineering because of his lessons and teachers at the Challenger Center as a student from `Ewa Elementary. Without a doubt, the Challenger Center has touched the lives of students.”

Challenger Center Hawai’i Director Liane Kim said “We are grateful that Governor Linda Lingle and Lt. Governor Aiona value the unique and relevant learning opportunities that we provide our students. We are honored and thankful that we will be able to continue to inspire the next generation of explorers,” Kim said.

About the Challenger Center for Space Science Education

Using space exploration as a theme and simulations as a vehicle, the Challenger Center for Space Science Education and its international network of 47 Challenger Learning Centers create positive educational experiences that raise students’ expectations of success, fosters a long-term interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and inspires students to pursue studies and careers in these areas. Challenger Center’s network of Challenger Learning Centers across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and South Korea reach more than 300,000 students each year through simulated space missions and educational programs, and engage over 40,000 educators through missions, teacher workshops and other programs.

To learn more about Challenger Center for Space Science Education, visit http://www.challenger.org.

For more information on Challenger Center Hawai’i visit http://www.k12.hi.us/~space/

Media Contact:
Liane Kim
Challenger Center Hawaii
Barbers Point Elementary School
3001 Boxer Road
Kapolei, HI 96707
(808) 673-7410
Liane_Kim@notes.k12.hi.us