Johnson Space Center, Rodeo Houston celebrate partnership
2016-09-12
On July 25, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo officials visited Johnson Space Center to celebrate ongoing partnerships between our community and theirs.
President and CEO of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) Joel Cowley, along with Jack Lyons, chairman of the Board of Directors of the HLSR, and Gene Hollier, lifetime director of the HLSR, presented a guitar signed by all of the 2016 rodeo entertainers to JSC Director Dr. Ellen Ochoa to commemorate the partnership.
“JSC and the rodeo have enjoyed a thriving partnership for several years now, and this year is no exception,” Ochoa said. “We were excited to involve our crew members to participate in this year’s rodeo, with astronaut Scott Kelly introducing the entertainment lineup announcement from space and Tim Kopra providing a pre-recorded message from the space station to kick off NASA Night at the Rodeo.”
HLSR officials also spent some time with students participating in NASA’s High school Aerospace Scholars (HAS) program, a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education program for Texas high school juniors. HAS starts in the fall with an online course and culminates—for students who earn the opportunity—with an on-site summer experience at JSC. Rodeo Houston has been an important funding partner for this program since it first began in 1999. This year, 727 students were nominated to participate in HAS by their state legislator, and 264 students were selected to complete the on-site experience.
The evening began with a talk from Glynn Lunney, former flight director for the Gemini and Apollo programs and manager of the Space Shuttle Program, in the historic Apollo Mission Control Room, and ended with a look at the current space station Flight Control Room with Flight Controller Chris Feng.
After enjoying a unique, hands-on experience with science and engineering during a time when they’re making important college and career decisions, many HAS alumni have continued on to STEM careers at Johnson and beyond.
These are just a few of the many ways JSC and Rodeo Houston have partnered together over the years to better our community. The signed guitar and framed entertainer lineup are now on display in Building 1 for the JSC community to enjoy.
For more information about High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS), visit: has.aerospacescholars.org
Hayley Fick
NASA Johnson Space Center
President and CEO of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) Joel Cowley, along with Jack Lyons, chairman of the Board of Directors of the HLSR, and Gene Hollier, lifetime director of the HLSR, presented a guitar signed by all of the 2016 rodeo entertainers to JSC Director Dr. Ellen Ochoa to commemorate the partnership.
“JSC and the rodeo have enjoyed a thriving partnership for several years now, and this year is no exception,” Ochoa said. “We were excited to involve our crew members to participate in this year’s rodeo, with astronaut Scott Kelly introducing the entertainment lineup announcement from space and Tim Kopra providing a pre-recorded message from the space station to kick off NASA Night at the Rodeo.”
HLSR officials also spent some time with students participating in NASA’s High school Aerospace Scholars (HAS) program, a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education program for Texas high school juniors. HAS starts in the fall with an online course and culminates—for students who earn the opportunity—with an on-site summer experience at JSC. Rodeo Houston has been an important funding partner for this program since it first began in 1999. This year, 727 students were nominated to participate in HAS by their state legislator, and 264 students were selected to complete the on-site experience.
The evening began with a talk from Glynn Lunney, former flight director for the Gemini and Apollo programs and manager of the Space Shuttle Program, in the historic Apollo Mission Control Room, and ended with a look at the current space station Flight Control Room with Flight Controller Chris Feng.
After enjoying a unique, hands-on experience with science and engineering during a time when they’re making important college and career decisions, many HAS alumni have continued on to STEM careers at Johnson and beyond.
These are just a few of the many ways JSC and Rodeo Houston have partnered together over the years to better our community. The signed guitar and framed entertainer lineup are now on display in Building 1 for the JSC community to enjoy.
For more information about High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS), visit: has.aerospacescholars.org
Hayley Fick
NASA Johnson Space Center
Rodeo Houston’s Joel Cowley, Gene Hollier and Jack Lyons present a signed guitar to JSC Director Dr. Ellen Ochoa and Bob Musgrove, Cindy McArthur and Carla Santiago of the JSC Office of Education. Image Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford
Joel Cowley, president and CEO of the HLSR, and Jack Lyons, chairman of the Board of Directors, join High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) students for a talk by Glynn Lunney in historic Apollo Mission Control. Image Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford
Rodeo Houston officials join HAS students in historic Apollo Mission Control. Rodeo Houston has been an important funding partner for this program since it first began in 1999. Image Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford