Ringgold students participate in program with ex-astronaut

By ERIC SEIVERLING

eseiverling@yourmvi.com

Ringgold Middle School students received an out of this world learning experience Wednesday.

A group of students from grades 7 and 8 participated in the national Quarterbacks of Life NASA Challenge. Ringgold Middle School was one of eight schools in the country selected to take part in the annual program.

Led by assistant principal Lisa Mauro and teachers Zachary Smith and Jonathan Boscan, students gave a virtual slideshow presentation to retired U.S. Navy Capt. Scott “Scooter” Altman, an engineer, test pilot and former NASA astronaut.

Altman has taken part in four space shuttle missions and has spent nearly two months in space.

Students selected for the event were Jerhyn Camillocci, Allen Lewis, Logan Neidermeyer and Brennan Ambrose, who were given Altman’s life story of challenges and accomplishments. 

The students then came up with their own blueprint for success and presented their slideshow as Altman watched from the NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center in Maryland.

Topics in the students’ presentation included “Success,” “Success Stoppers” and “Stepping Stones to Success.”

Mauro said this was the first time the school has been selected for the event.

“When we got the information, we just ran with it,” she said. “It was so nice to see the kids have such different personalities and to see such a diverse group of students work so well together.”

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