NASA grant allows 30 local students to participate in Challenger Learning Center program

Thirty local fifth-grade students have been selected to participate in a STEM Squad, thanks to a NASA grant awarded to the Challenger Learning Center in Paducah.

The Challenger Learning Center was one of only 21 organizations from across the nation to win an award from the new NASA grant program. 

The organization received $23,614 to offer unique STEM opportunities to the group of children over the next year.

The STEM Squad will experience numerous STEM-themed learning opportunities through monthly STEM Squad Summits, a summer project, and a trip to Space Camp in Alabama. 

At the end of the project, the students will participate in a community experience-sharing session. They'll additionally receive encouragement to continue their engagement through the formation of an alumni group, which will be able to volunteer and serve at the CLC in various capacities.

Each of the students chosen for the squad were selected based on applications that included an essay section and reference letter from a non-family member. Each essay was then scored by four people, including WKCTC and Challenger Learning Center staff, Paducah Junior College board, and community members.

Participating students include the following:


Ballard County Elementary
Brantley Tinker, LaCenter (5th grade

Beacon Academy Homeschool
Elias Pogue, Benton (6th grade)

Calloway County Middle School
Collin Naber, Murray (6th grade)

Clark Elementary School
Emory Masthay, Paducah (5th grade)

EA Friedman Middle School
Eliza Smith, Boaz (6th grade)

Ewing Grade School
Makenzie Morris, Ewing, Ill. (6th grade)

Ewing-Northern Grade School
Bentley Smith, Benton, Ill. (6th grade)

Graves County Middle School
Nicholas Goddard, Hickory (7th grade)

Heath Middle School
Andrew Byrne, Kevil (7th grade) Alivia Pardue, West Paducah (7th grade)

Homeschool Will Heacox, Paducah (7th grade)

Lone Oak Intermediate School
Eli Ursini, Paducah (5th grade)

Lone Oak Middle School
Rex Johnston and Bennett Seaton, Paducah (6th grade)

Mayfield Middle School
Eliot Acree, Arya Anderson and Chanel Powell, Mayfield (6th grade)

Metropolis Elementary School
Lucas Trevathan, Metropolis, Ill. (6th grade)

Murray Middle School
Carrie Mills, Murray (7th grade)

North Marshall Middle School
Warren Carmichael, Benton (6th grade)

Oak Grove Christian Academy Homeschool
Mason Gore, Benton (6th grade)

Paducah Middle School
Kenneth Myre, Paducah (6th grade)

Reidland Middle School
Adelma Lilijenberg, Paducah (6th grade)

South Marshall Middle School
Dalton Powell, Benton (7th grade)

St. Mary Middle School
Trey Ashford, Wickliffe; Emma Dee, Meredith Paxton and Boston Yazig, Paducah (6th grade)

Avalyn Jones and Caleb Newman, Paducah (6th grade) - school not listed.



Photo courtesy of Challenger Learning Center.