posted 02-09-2013 12:25 PM               

Space Cover #200: NASA's Teacher in Space Project Covers

The Teacher in Space Project was announced by President Reagan in August 1984 and more than 10,000 teachers applied for the opportunity to fly in space on the Space Shuttle. NASA selected two teachers from each state and US territory, for a total of 114 semi-finalists. From the 114 semi-finalists, ten Finalists were chosen and announced on July 1, 1985. Then from those ten, Concord, New Hampshire school teacher Christa McAuliffe was chosen to become the first teacher to fly in space.

Immediately after the ten finalists were announced, this collector got busy sending two covers to each of the ten Finalists for their autographs. Between September 1985 and mid-January 1986, all ten Finalists returned my covers nicely signed. Appropriate "Public Education" stamps were added to the covers and off they went to KSC to be postmarked for the launch of the first school teacher aboard Challenger on Space Shuttle mission STS-51L. But a fun project and nice set of signed covers turned into a somber reminder of the fate of Christa and the others aboard Challenger on January 28, 1986.

The Teacher in Space cover above was canceled for STS-51L and has four stamps affixed commemorating teaching and education (via Ken Havekotte).

Next is a photo of all ten Finalists together during their visit to the Marshall Space Flight Center in September during MSFC's 25th anniversary celebration (via T-in-S Finalist, Kathleen Beres).

The covers below were autographed by the following Teacher in Space Finalists: Christa McAuliffe, New Hampshire; Barbara Morgan, Idaho; Kathleen Beres, Maryland; Robert Forester, Indiana; Judith Garcia, Virginia; Peggy Lathlaen, Texas; David Marquart, Idaho; Richard Methia, Massachusetts; Michael Metcalf, Vermont; and Niki Wenger, West Virginia.

posted 02-10-2013 08:08 AM               

It's also worth noting that SCCS produced a long series of covers devoted to the Teacher in Space program. One example is shown below.

Finally a couple of my favorite covers. They actually look better in real life.

posted 02-10-2013 09:33 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Ross:
Question: Does anyone have a list of the 114 semi-finalists?

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A list of the 114 nominees and their schools, as provided by the council, follows:

Alabama: Sophia Ann Clifford, Erwin High School, Birmingham; Pamela Sue Grayson, Minor High School, Birmingham.

Alaska: Mildred J. Heinrich, Robert Service High School, Anchorage; Richard C. Houghton, Napaaqtugmiut High School, Noatak.

Arizona: Robert Carpenter, Secrist Middle School, Tucson; Robin Kline, Tonalea Elementary School, Scottsdale.

Arkansas: William A. Dempsey, Arkansas Senior High School, Texarkana; Mary Beth Grenway, Parkview High School, Little Rock.

Bureau of Indian Affairs: Stan Renfro, Wingate High School, Fort Wingate, N.M.; Sherry Woodside, Wingate Elementary School, Fort Wingate, N.M.

California: William M. Dillon Jr., Peninsula High School, San Bruno; Gloria M. McMillan, La Jolla High School, La Jolla.

Colorado: Kim Natale, Pomona High School, Arvada; Robert Stack, Shawsheen High School, Greeley.

Connecticut: Robert Mellette, Conte Arts Magnet School, New Haven; David Warner, Westminster School, Simsbury.

Delaware: Henry E. W. Bouchelle, Pilot Elementary School, Wilmington; Stephanie Gerjovich-Wright, Stanton Middle School, Wilmington.

Department of Defense: Mary Smothers, Kaiserslautern American High School, APO, New York; Kenneth VanLew, Frankfurt High School, APO, New York.

Department of State: Donald Jonasson, Jakarta International School, Jakarta Selatan; Bruce Wixted, American of Kuwait, Hawalli.

District of Columbia: William A. Barwick Jr., Woodrow Wilson High School; Nancy J. Cooksy, Eastern High School.

Florida: Susan W. Forte, Georgestone Vocational School, Pensacola; Michael D. Reynolds, Duncan U. Fletcher Senior High School, Neptune Beach.

Georgia: Thomas Phillip Garmon, Benjamin E. Mays High School, Atlanta; Carol G. Hickson, Fernback Science Center, Atlanta.

Guam: Dale J. Jenkins, St. John’s School, Tumon Bay; M. Bernadette McCorkle, Vocational High School, Barrigada.

Hawaii: Joseph Ciotti, St. Louis High School, Honolulu; Arthur Kimura, McKinley high School, Honolulu.

Idaho: David M. Marquart, Boise High School, Boise; Barbara R. Morgan, McCall--Donnelly Elementary School, McCall.

Illinois: John D. Baird, Quincy Senior High School, Quincy; Lynne M. Haeffele, Bloomington High School, Bloomington.

Indiana: Robert S. Foerster, Cumberland Elementary School, West Lafayette; Stephen L. Tucker, West Vigo High School, West Terre Haute.

Iowa: A. John Cazanas, Rockford Senior High School, Rockford; Lori M. Goetsch, Mt. Pleasant Junior High School, Mount Pleasant.

Kansas: Wendell G. Mohling, Shawnee Mission North West High School, Shawnee Mission; Barry L. Schartz, Goddard High School, Goddard.

Kentucky: Sue Ellen W. Darnell, North Marshall Junior High School, Calvert City; Judy A. White, L.C. Curry Elementary School, Bowling Green.

Louisiana: Debra Harris, Rusheon Junior High School, Bossier City; Denise Van Bibber, Alexandria Country Day School, Alexandria.

Maine: Gordon L. Corbett, Yarmouth Intermediate School, Yarmouth; William C. Townsend, Summer Memorial High School, East Sullivan.

Maryland: Kathleen Beres, Kenwood High School, Baltimore; David R. Zahren, G. Gardner Shugart Middle School, Hillcrest Heights.

Massachusetts: Richard Methia, New Bedford High School, New Bedford; Charles Sposato, Farley Middle School, Framingham.

Michigan: Derrick Fries, Seaholm High School, Birmingham; Sharon Newman, West Hills Middle School, West Bloomfield.

Minnesota: Steve L Brehmer, Wanamingo Public High School, Wanamingo; Katherine Koch-Laveen, Apple Valley High School, Apple Valley.

Mississippi: Connie Moore, Oak Grove High School, Hattiesburg; Joann Reid, Weir Attendance Center, Weir.

Missouri: Christopher W. Brown, McCluer North Senior High School, Florissant; Richard K. Kavanaugh, Park Hill R-5 High School, Kansas City.

Montana: Paul Dorrance, Helena High School, Helena; Patricia Johnson, Capital High School, Helena.

Nebraska: Roger Ray, Northwest High School, Omaha; James R. Schaeffer, Lincoln East High School, Lincoln.

Nevada: Ericka J. Turner, Chaparral High School, Las Vegas; Joan C. Turner, Las Vegas High School, Las Vegas.

New Hampshire: Christa McAuliffe, Concord High School, Concord; Robert Veilleux, Central High School, Manchester.

New Jersey: Jeannine M. Duane, Black River Middle School, Chester; Binnie J. Thom, Walter C. Black Elementary School, Hightstown.

New Mexico: Jennifer Dotson, Jones Ranch School, Jones Ranch; Laura Reeves, Rio Grande High School, Albuquerque.

New York: Susan A. Agruso, East Islip High School, Islip Terrace; Edward F. Duncanson, Crispell Middle School, Pine Bush.

North Carolina: Ernest W. Morgan, Morganton Junior High School, Morganton; Cynthia B. Zeger, Salisbury High School, Salisbury.

North Dakota: Sherry L. Hanson, A.L. Hagen Junior High School, Dickinson; Donald L. Hoff, Velva High School, Velva.

Ohio: Gail B. Klink, Newark High School, Newark; James B. Rowley, Centerville High School, Centerville.

Oklahoma: Freda D. Deskin, Pauls Valley Middle School, Pauls Valley; Frank E. Marcum, Booker T. Washington High School, Tulsa.

Oregon: Stephen Boyarski, Medford High School, Medford; Michael Fitzgibbons Forest Grove High School, Forest Grove.

Pennsylvania: Patricia Plazzolo, Clairton High School, Clairton; Charles Tremer, Southern Lehigh High School, Center Valley.

Puerto Rico: Nancy M. Lee, Roosevelt Roads Middle School, Ceiba; John G. Wells, Roosevelt Roads Middle School, Ceiba.

Rhode Island: Ronald Reynolds, Barrington High School, Barrington; Leisa Sadwin, Halliwell Elementary School, North Smithfield.

South Carolina: Michael H. Farmer, Riverside High School; Greer; Myra J. Halpin, Goose Creek High School, Goose Creek.

South Dakota: Kevin J. Falon, Lincoln Senior High School, Sioux Falls; Gerald E. Loomer, Rapid City Central High School, Rapid City.

Tennessee: Carolyn H. Dobbins, McMurray Middle School, Nashville; Bonnie D. Fakes, Lebanon High School, Lebanon.

Texas: Peggy Lathlaen, Westwood Elementary School, Friendswood; Stephen A. Warren, Stephen F. Austin High School, Austin.

Utah: John W. Barainca, Brighton High School, Salt Lake City; Linda J. Preston, Park City High School, Park City.

Vermont: Gail Breslauer, Fayston Elementary School, Waitsfield; Michael Metcalf, Hazen Union Junior High School, Hardwick.

Virginia: Ronald C. Fortunato, Norfolk Technical Vocational Center, Norfolk; Judith M. Garcia, Jefferson School For Science and Technology, Alexandria.

Virgin Islands: Carol Eby, Peace Corps Elementary School, St. Thomas; Rosa Hampson, Elena Christian Junior High School, Christiansted.

Washington: Frances B. Call, Islander Middle School, Mercer Island; Michael R. Jones, Kellogg Middle School, Seattle.

West Virginia: Nike M. Wenger, Vandevender Junior High School, Parkersburg; Melanie B. Vickers, St. Albans Junior High School, St. Albans.

Wisconsin: Ellen Baerman, Wisconsin Hills Elementary School, Brookfield; Larry Scheckel, Tomah Senior High School, Tomah.

Wyoming: Michael G. Pearson, McCormick Junior High School; Julie M. Gess, Evanston High School, Evanston.