Press Room
NASA's Reilly and U.S. Rep. Baird promote math and science in SW Washington schools
Spreading a message of the importance of science and math education, Congressman Brian Baird and NASA astronaut Dr. James Reilly visited area schools June 1. The pair also visited a high tech company that has mentored AP Physics high school students and teachers, and met with Clark County school superintendents. The visit concluded with a celebration at Washington State University Vancouver honoring the Mentoring Advanced Placement (MAP) students, teachers and mentors and the awarding of an internship and scholarship to one of the MAP-participating students.
The day began with a tour of nLight Photonics, a Vancouver-area high tech company that helped initiate and pilot the MAP program.
The group visited a Physics class at Skyview High School and then Reilly and Baird met over a lunch sponsored by Educational Service District 112, with the High Tech Council, local economic development organizations and school superintendents.
Future astronauts and students from James Zellerbach Elementary in Camas exchanged space knowledge with Reilly and Baird later in the afternoon.
An evening event to honor the MAP students, teachers and mentors was held at Washington State University Vancouver. Dr. Reilly gave a keynote followed by a Q & A session before watching a demonstration by the Washougal High School AP Physics/MAP team. Participants of the MAP program were recognized and scholarship recipient Christopher Liu, a junior at Mountain View High School was announced.
Pictured: U.S. Rep. Brian Baird (left) and NASA astronaut Dr. James Reilly pose with two MAP graduates.