NASA Administrator Bolden Named Champion Of Summer Learning

WASHINGTON — The National Summer Learning Association has recognized NASA Administrator Charles Bolden as a Champion of Summer Learning. The award honors Bolden’s dedication to keeping America’s middle school students engaged in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through a new initiative called the Summer of Innovation.

Five leaders from across the nation who have invested in summer learning programs and helped increase public support for them will receive the award.

“Bolden’s leadership on the NASA Summer of Innovation program has resulted in a major step forward on two critical policy challenges facing our nation: summer learning loss and STEM education,” said Ron Fairchild, CEO of the association.

Bolden officially kicked off the Summer of Innovation June 10 at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. Using content from NASA’s missions and research, the program will engage thousands of middle school students in STEM learning during the summer months when many students experience “summer slide,” or a loss of skills acquired during the school year. Summer of Innovation is a cornerstone of the Educate to Innovate campaign President Obama announced last November.

“It is such an honor for me personally — and for NASA — to be recognized for our commitment to summer learning,” Bolden said. “However I do want to single out two individuals without whom the Summer of Innovation would not be in place today — Nicole Campbell, a White House Fellow who raised the idea of this program when she joined my staff, and Dovie Lacy, the project manager, who breathed life into the program. Education is a passion of mine, and I have asked that NASA’s best and brightest get involved and make this Summer of Innovation a special and meaningful experience for these middle school students. They’re our future and I want to ensure it is a bright one.”

To learn more about the Summer of Innovation, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/soi

For information about NASA’s Education Programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/education

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov