NASA Back to School Event Highlights Summer Learning

HAMPTON, Va., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA is collaborating with award-winning recording artist Pharrell Williams' charitable organization From One Hand to Another to host a back to school event for 1,500 students Saturday, Sept. 4, at Williams Farm Park in Virginia Beach, Va.

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(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO )

The day, sponsored by NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton and From One Hand to Another, will feature astronaut Leland Melvin, a veteran of two spaceflights and former NASA Langley Research engineer, community leaders and other special guests.

The event called "Back to School PI Day: Showcasing STEM – Tools for the Future" will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and is free and open to the public. This is a kick-off to a partnership between NASA Langley and From One Hand to Another, designed to encourage science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education awareness.

The event is meant to highlight the accomplishments of students from Hampton Roads who participated in NASA Langley's inaugural Summer of Innovation (SoI) camps this year where they focused on STEM activities. Summer of Innovation is a key part of the President's Educate to Innovate Campaign, which was launched this summer to help keep middle school students engaged during the school break.

According to organizers, "the primary focus of From One Hand to Another is to bring resources and opportunities to students so they can explore their unique potential." The charity organization will build its first resource center at Williams Farm Park, which will focus on engaging youth in STEM.

News media interested in attending the event are encouraged to contact Amy Johnson at (757) 864-7022.

For more information on research at NASA Summer of Innovation, visit:

www.nasa.gov/soi

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SOURCE NASA