On April 30, 2024, Beating the Odds Foundation held its 9th annual student event in cooperation with NASA called the Quarterbacks of Life®/NASA Research Challenge. The event was held at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland.
122 middle and high school students led by 26 teachers, participated in the challenge at GSFC. Student teams were from Albert Gallatin North/South Middle Schools (McClellandtown, PA/Point Marion, PA), Antelope Valley Learning Academy (Palmdale, CA), Bellwood-Antis Middle School (Bellwood, PA), Franklin Regional Middle School (Murrysville, PA), Hollidaysburg Area Jr. High School (Hollidaysburg, PA), Inspired Teaching Demonstration School (Washington, DC), Kiski Area High School (Vandergrift, PA), Laurel Highlands Middle School (Uniontown, PA), Muhlenberg Junior High School (Reading, PA), and Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy (Boalsburg, PA).
During the morning tour of GSFC, students visited the Hubble Space Telescope Mission Operations, Hubble’s primary command and control room where both manual and automated operations are performed from this location; viewed the world’s largest cleanroom (Class 10,000) and learned about the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope that will function as Hubble’s wide-eyed cousin; and toured the Near Space Operations Communications Center that plays a pivotal role in advancing space communications and enabling efficient data exchange for space missions.
Following lunch, Travis Wohlrab, Public Engagement Officer, GSFC, spoke to the students about what they do at the premiere space flight complex and the advances in new technologies that enable tomorrow’s explorers to see further. GSFC is home to the nation’s largest organization of scientists, engineers, and technologists who build spacecraft, instruments, and new technology to study Earth, the Sun, our solar system, and the universe.
This year’s challenge focused on the life of Retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and Pilot of Polaris Dawn Mission, Scott “Kidd” Poteet. Through the example of Poteet’s life challenges and successes, students saw that they too can achieve their dreams despite the challenges along the way. Due to training for the upcoming Polaris Dawn Mission, Kidd was not able to attend in-person, but joined the students and teachers virtually via Starlink, a satellite internet constellation, while flying from Houston to Hawthorne. Kidd told the students that his accomplishments didn’t come easy. He had plenty of disappointments along the way. He told the students failure is not to be feared. He said, “Trust the gifts you have and the passion you developed to overcome self-doubt.” Kidd quoted his role model, Steve Prefontaine, “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”
Following Scott’s presentation and Q&A, student teams presented their research challenge on the life of Scott Poteet and their own lives using the Blueprint for Success.
This year’s event was sponsored by the McShane Family Foundation, Agenda, Customers Bank, ASRC Federal, Walmart, Sheetz, Mariner, Keller Engineers, Curve Charities, Kars4Kids, Centre 1st Bank, Twala Mathis, Mark and Janet Jenkins, and Mark Sahd.
Photo attribution: NASA/GSFC/Tabatha Luskey
