Honor's Night at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center. The Old Rank Advancement System, 2000-2023. Imaginarium Theater.

Editor's Note:  I always do my best to report the news as I see it here in The Troubadour, but there have been times where I may have mis-remembered a few events; perhaps adding a quazifact here or misreading an event there. If so, blame it on my overactive imagination and advanced age. So with that being said, let's jump right in shall we :)   

     Thursday evening was Honor's Night at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center. Honor's Night is where we celebrate the accomplishments and hard work of our volunteers and staff. I opened the event with what I consider a hearty welcome to all gathered. Then, with a bit of finesse, I seamlessly transitioned  the welcome into a brief yet moving history of Honor's Nights through the ages.  Sitting in the audience and nodding their heads in agreement were older Space Center veterans.  A few looked wistfully with aging eyes into the darkened dome as they remembered the time long ago when it was their moment in the spotlight. With younger legs and heartier hearts, they sprinted to the front of the original Space Center's Discovery Room to receive their first Honors from Set and Flight Directors who have long since disappeared into Space Center lore.  Ah, good times and good memories. 

     My front porch recollections came to an end after noticing Mr. Porter mouthing the words, "You're losing them," from his front row seat.  A kind gesture intended not to offend but to keep the evening moving along.  Younger audiences have shorter attention spans - something I should know all too well.  So, with all the enthusiasm a 65 year old can muster at 6:40 P.M., I introduced Mr. Porter and took to my seat to prepare to take the official Honor's Night photos. 

 

James Porter, Space Center Director

Mr. Porter started with the usual reminders.

1. Dress appropriately so our visitors know you work here and not someone from the street looking for a warm meal, a hand out, and a bed for the night. 

2. Take a shower and use deodorant because you stink if you don't and our control rooms are small. 

"A word of advice," he said to the younger volunteers moving into their adolescence years. "If you're sitting in a control room and you notice people's eyes watering up as they slide their chairs in a direction opposite from where you're sitting - it may be because you stink." 

Mikey W., Voyager Club President (Notice the new double V hand sign for Voyager Club Members Only)

     I was asked to return to the podium with Voyager Club news. I thanked Aiden for his work as our first Voyager Club president and introduced Mikey as the Club's new president.  Mikey stood to receive the room's applause, and then proceeded down the stairs toward the podium to make a few remarks. As he navigated the steps I noticed half a ream of paper in his hands of "changes" he wanted to make in the Club now that he was in firm control.  He also produced a hat from his back pocket with MSCGA embroidered on its front (Make the Space Center Great Again).  I kindly motioned for him to return to his seat which he did reluctantly. Strangely I felt a chill fill the room. Either the air conditioner kicked on or perhaps it's origin was something more sinister???

The Honor's. New Set Directors

Ellie Clark Received the Cassini Microphone from Former Set Director Jon Parker

     Jon Parker presented Ellie Clark with the Cassini microphone, and with we see a peaceful transition of power as Ellie becomes the Cassini's 2nd Set Director.  We're not sure what Ellie intends to do with this new power, but I'm hearing from somewhat reliable sources that there will be some changes. As Ellie said upon receiving the microphone, "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet People!"

     Jon did a great job with the Cassini, but with student teaching and a pending college graduation coming up in a couple months, Jon has found there aren't enough hours in the day to do everything he'd like.  Ellie also knows that Jon will be peering over her shoulder. He is, after all, the simulation's director at the Space Center.  He will be patrolling the halls of Starbase Williamson wearing white gloves looking for anything amiss. I doubt even a misplaced whisper of lint on the carpet will miss his eye.  

JJ Madigan receives the Falcon Microphone from James Porter

      JJ Madigan is the Falcon's 2nd Set Director.  James Porter was the simulator's first.  JJ nearly dislocated Mr. Porter's arm as he lunged for the microphone during the solemn hand off ceremony. "I'm OK, I'm OK," Mr. Porter said as a few of us in the front row jumped up to offer assistance.  

     JJ's enthusiasm comes as no surprise to all of us. He has worked hard to earn that microphone. There are rumors he's even spent several nights sleeping on the Falcon's bridge just to keep the simulator company during the long end of summer cleaning shut downs when there are no flights for a couple weeks. 

     "Out with the Old and In With the New! is the Falcon's new  mission statement," said JJ in his first post investiture interview with The Troubadour's reporter covering the event that night.       

The Honors. The Magellan Pin

Those receiving their Magellan Pass Off Pin

     Tyler Gotcher was proud of his new class of young Padawans at Honor's Night. These are they who put the Magellan first during much of the summer camp season. These are they who endure so much for this opportunity to stand in front of the congregation with their wise and powerful Master to receive this small metallic token of be proudly worn on their lanyards of power.  

The Honors. The Phoenix Pin 

Oliver Utley receiving his Phoenix Pin from his SubMaster Scott Wiltbank

   Standing in for Silver Perry, the Phoenix's Set Director, Scott Wiltbank presented the Phoenix Pin to Oliver.  Yes Scott, Oliver is "The Man" as your picture illustrates so well.  Oliver is amazing and considered one of our top Voyager Volunteers at the Space Center. 

The Red Blemish from ??? and the New Red Blemish Played by Oliver

     Oliver also plays an outstanding Red Blemish, reprising the role once played ???? (ah, you think I'd reveal the name of the first Red Blemish?  No, his identity is known to only a few. Let that be your challenge. Unmask the first Red Blemish). 

 

The Honors. The Galileo Pin

Orion Presents the new Galileo Pin Holders

  Orion presented the new Galileo Pin holders to the congregation at Honor's Night.  The Little Ship that Could has produced a bumper crop of outstanding pass holders.  With a Galileo pin, a youngling can expect preferential treatment from the admission's office at Starfleet Academy.  Expect to hear great things about these three as they proceed along their chosen career path in Starfleet.   

The Honors. The Falcon Pin

JJ with the first ever Falcon Pin Awardees. History in the Making

     It was a historic night at the Space Center. For the first time ever, the Falcon awarded its first pass off pins to Mikey Wiltbank, Thomas Rice, and Kayla Hansen.  To top that, the presenter was JJ Madigan, the Falcon's new Set Director.  

     Had I been more alert I would have arranged for balloons to drop from the dome in celebration or at least passed out blow-ticklers.  

The Honors. Apprentices 

The Honors. Journeyman 

The Honors. Hitchhikers

The Honors. Defenders of the Universe

The Honors. New Staff

New Hires in the picture above,

Rylan, Kayla, Cecily, Aiden, and Micah

The Honors. Lords and Ladies of the Vote

Those who earned the most camper votes during the last summer camp season

The Honors. The Summer's Top Flight Directors

Sorry Tyler for cutting off your name. That is Tyler Gotcher in #5

The Honors. The Summer's Top Missions

Hayden Senske and Scott Wiltbank Representing the Phoenix for the Phoenix's Top Summer Story "Fatal Error".  Missing is Silver Perry, the Phoenix Set Director

The Honors. The Summer's Top Simulators

Team Falcon receiving the Honor of Top Simulator for the 2023 Summer Space Camp Season. Mr. Porter, JJ, Mikey, Rylan, and Nan

The Honors. Remembering Saint Sheila Powell A Space Center Educator

Saint Sheila Powell escorting a group of field trip students to the simulators from their restroom break.  Sheila and Lorraine Houston were the dream team of Space Center field trip instructors back in the day.  Sheila had recently retired as a sixth-grade teacher from the Jordan School District when I convinced her to come join our staff as a field trip teacher. Those years rest nicely on my memory. 

     Honor's Night was special because of a special someone we honored.  Sheila Powell, an amazing teacher and friend who loved the Space Center deeply and worked tirelessly to promote our vision of creating a space faring civilization.  Sheila passed away two months ago after fighting a courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease. 

Her many contributions as a teacher in Jordan District, the Utah Geography Alliance, and the Christa McAuliffe Space Center made a difference for good in the lives of thousands of children and her coworkers. She retired from the Space Center in 2011 to fight her final great battle against Parkinson's disease. Only something like that could force her to leave the Center. It was her home away from home. It gave her a chance to combine her love of teaching and space to excite our field trip students to look up and imagine what lies out there in the vastness of the cosmos.

My nickname for Sheila was "Saint Sheila" because she was just that to all of us, a Saint. The people I proclaim ‘Saints‘ encapsulate my vision of heroism. They are selfless with their fellow man. They are kind to a fault. They bear their burdens with a strength that inspires. All this, and much more, defined our Saint Sheila.

  I presented Lee Powell, Sheila's husband, with the Space Center's Founder's Award in her memory, an award I should have presented to her in person but the disease took her too soon. The Founder's Award is the highest honor the CMSC can give and is awarded to those who serve and served the Space Center well over many years and who exemplify the Space Center's ideals and mission.

Lee and Sheila Powell

     Casey Voeks flew in from Texas to attend and delivered a moving tribute.  Aleta Clegg recorded a beautiful tribute which was played on the planetarium's dome.  The final tribute was given by Lorraine Houston.  It was the kind of tribute only a dear friend could give.  

In the end we remembered that Sheila Powell was more than an outstanding teacher; she was a guiding star, a force of nature, and a true champion of education. Her influence extended far beyond the walls of her classroom. Through her dedication, she helped ignite a spark of curiosity and a passion for space in thousands of young minds.

Her legacy is not only written in the stars but etched in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing her. Sheila Powell was a beacon of inspiration and a forever member of our Space Center family. Her spirit will continue to guide us towards the limitless possibilities of the cosmos. And so say we all.....

The Space Center's Rank Advancement Program 2000 - 2013.  

With today's post being about Honor's, I thought it may be of interest to today's staff and volunteers to read about the Space Center's rank advancement program from around the year 2000 to 2013.  Here is the breakdown for advancement levels, what you had to do to get the rank, and the perks of each rank.  

Advancement: 

1 Shuttle Patch is earned for every 150 points earned and 6 hours in a Voyager Academy Class, Super Space Saturday, or Naval Academy.

Pioneer:
• Entry Level Volunteer Organization. 1 Mission Observation in 4 of the 5 simulators.

Voyager: 
• Outstanding performance with the customers at the Space Center. Outstanding work performance and work habits in the simulators.  Seniority Points and 2 Shuttle Patches.
•Center Director will make the final decision based on openings in the Voyager Society.

Ranger: 
•Outstanding performance with the customers at the Space Center. (10 camper care points: A. Lord of the Votes. B. Set Director recognition.)  Outstanding work performance and work habits in the simulators.  Recommendation from your Set Director.  Complete pass off of 2 simulators.  Egroup Club Points and 4 Shuttle Patches earned. Mr. Williamson will make the final decision based on job openings.

Ranger: 1 Bar 
• $12.00 gratuity per overnight mission. Outstanding performance with the customers at the Space Center. (15 camper care points: A. Lord of the Votes. B. Set Director recognition.)
•Outstanding work performance and work habits in the simulators.
•Complete pass offs from 3 of the 5 simulators. Earning total of 6 Shuttle Advancement Patches earned. Seniority Points. Center Director will make the final decision based on job openings.

Ranger: 2 Bars 

• $20.00 gratuity per overnight mission. Outstanding performance with the customers at the Space Center. 
(20 camper care points: A. Lord of the Votes. B. Set Director recognition.)
•Outstanding work performance and work habits in the simulators.  Complete pass offs from 3 of the 5 simulators. Earning 8 Shuttle Advancement Patches. Seniority Points. Center Director will make the final decision based on job openings. 

Ranger: 3 Bars 
• $28.00 gratuity per overnight mission. Outstanding performance with the customers at the Space Center. 
(25 camper care points: A. Lord of the Votes. B. Set Director recognition.)
• Outstanding work performance and work habits in the simulators.
• Complete pass offs from 4 of the 5 simulators. Earning 10 Shuttle Advancement Patches.
• Seniority Points. Center Director will make the final decision based on job openings.

Ranger: 4 Bars
• $36.00 gratuity per overnight mission. Outstanding performance with the customers at the Space Center. 
(30 camper care points: A. Lord of the Votes. B. Flight Director recognition.)
• Outstanding work performance and work habits in the simulators.
• Complete pass offs from 4 of 5 simulators.
• Earning 12 Shuttle Advancement Patches.
• Seniority Points. 
• Center Director will make the final decision based on job openings.

Ranger: 5 Bars
• Time Card. 
• At least 16 years old. 
• Outstanding performance with the customers at the Space Center. 
(35 camper care points: A. Lord of the Votes. B. Flight Director recognition.)
• Outstanding work performance and work habits in the simulators.
• Complete pass offs from all simulators.
• Earning 14 Shuttle Advancement Patches.
• Seniority Points. 
• Center Director will make the final decision based on job openings.

Imaginarium Theater (Link Below)

The Week's Best Videos From Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience

Bracken Funk Returns to the Space Centering World as the Full time Assistant Director at the Renaissance Space Academy. Farpoint Gets a New Name: The Renaissance Space Academy. Posts and Pictures from the Past. September 2002. The Imaginarium.

Bracken in his native habitat, a Starship Control Room
He never likes to see me with my camera.

Bracken Funk Hired as Renaissance Space Academy's Full Time Assistant Director and Teacher on Special Assignment

     Mark Ursic, Director of Renaissance Academy in Lehi, wanted his school to have a state of the art simulator with the best experiential simulation curriculum on the market. And if the curriculum wasn't there, he wanted it created. With that goal in mind, he hired me to come in from my rocking chair retirement to direct the school's new Voyager Program. That was back in 2013. I took a sixth grade teaching position while the ship was designed and constructed. 

Bracken has been a Space Center devotee since he was 13.

     Running the starship program was part time. Working part time with me was Alex DeBirk and Isaac Ostler. It became apparent over the last two years that a small team of part timers didn't have the time to create the program envisioned for the school. A talented, driven, enthusiastic, gifted, full timer was needed. I spoke to Mr. Ursic about the need.  Without hesitation he endorsed the proposal of creating a full time simulator position.  

A very young Bracken on the original Starship Voyager

Bracken back in the day with the Red Blemish (Wyatt Lenhart)

     This summer, knowing our sixth grade was going to be inundated with nearly 100 sixth graders and knowing the time it would take to run the Young Astronauts and Voyager Clubs, I considered who we could hire to become my full time assistant. It needed to be someone who could wear many hats and effectively run the day to day operations of the Voyager.  

     I hired Bracken Funk at the start of the summer to work as a part time evening Voyager flight director. From our many conversations, I knew he was open to the idea of making a career change. An idea came to mind. I discussed it with Mr. Ursic. He gave the green light to talk to Bracken.  I spoke to Bracken and the rest is history. 

Bracken hard at work training a new young flight directors at RSA (Renaissance Space Academy)
"People rise to the level of their training"

      Bracken is in his second week at Renaissance.  Remarkable changes are afoot; new furniture for the ship, new lighting, a new server and special effects editing computer, new missions, new animations, an emphasis on Flight Director training, the adoption of Thorium controls along with Isaac Ostler's Interstellar controls, a new website, and new Thorium control features designed by Bracken and Alex Anderson: Rail Guns, Jump Engines. etc. Bracken is in and out of my classroom daily with new ideas, improvements, and best of all - accomplishments.  

Bracken has played basketball his whole life

     To top everything off, Bracken was also hired to be the public address game announcer at the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah for all Utah basketball games.   Life is good for Bracken, for the Renaissance Space Academy, and for the Space Centering world as the full potential of Bracken is unleashed.  Watch for tremendous things coming soon at the Renaissance Space Academy.  

Bracken has been unleashed.  Watch out Space Centering World.....

Mr. Williamson 

Farpoint is Now the Renaissance Space Academy

      Renaissance Academy is pleased to announce the appointment of Bracken Funk as a full time Teacher on Special Assignment in the Starship Voyager.  Bracken will be responsible for the day to day running of the experiential education program with an emphasis on creating an engaging, curriculum driven, school day flight program for the school's 800 students.  Working with the new simulator controls and lessons soon to be released by our sponsors at InfiniD Learning,  our new Space Academy will strive to become a showcase for simulator based learning in Utah.  
     Bracken's first suggestion was to rename the center.  Farpoint is the name of the science fiction universe created by myself and Ryan Anderson at Telos.  Bracken thought it best to separate the name of the center from the universe name.  With the success of the Center's Young Astronaut and Voyager program, and it's emphasis on academics and starship missions, the word "Academy" was more descriptive of our mission - hence the new name Renaissance Space Academy.

     With the Center's new name comes a new website.  Give it a look   SpaceCampUtah.org.  
     

Mr. Williamson

From the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center's Archives.  The Space Center Journal
In Today's Post:
The School Year is Off to a Great Start.  The Worst Times of the Year to be a Space Center Director. Working to Have an Outstanding Curriculum for the Year.  The Lesson is In The Groove. Out Dedicated Field Trip Staff. Lorraine Receives Her 10 Year Pin. James and Stephen Porter Resign.  Alex DeBirk Becomes First 5 Bar Ranger. First Green Shirts Make an Appearance. Rio Downs Becomes a Holder of the Silver Chalice of Zod. The School Year's Overnight Camp Missions.
Josh Webb Retires. Brady Young Promoted.

September 9, 2002

Hello Troops,
     A few weeks have passed since an entry to our Space Center Journal was posted. That, regrettably, was my fault. There are two times a year being the  Director of the Space Center is a 24/7 occupation. The first is April to June and the second falls between August and October. The first "rush" is due to the upcoming summer camp season. Registrations, mission writing, scheduling, etc causes hours of lost sleep. The second is the beginning of 
the school year. Lessons, flights, staffing, are once again the cause.  I'm currently in the second season. The past few weeks have been busy – a word that doesn't adequately define the state the Center has been in. Things are coming together and an end to the "busy" season is drawing nigh. Several people must be thanked for their contribution.

The Galileo Crew
3 Day Overnight Camp
July 6, 2007

     Jennifer Remy has been instrumental in writing the curriculum. The lessons and briefings will be placed on a CD-Rom, a first for the Center. Jennifer's goal is to take our curriculum and create a professional presentation. I'm determined our Center will make a name for itself both in our outstanding missions and in our curriculum. My goal, along with our teachers, is to strengthen our commitment to the sciences without loosing our specialty of  
folding science fiction and the humanities together, drawing on the strengths of both to motivate students to study space and science. 

The Phoenix First Officer.  The First Officer Station had a real telephone.
July 6, 2007

     Lorraine Houston, Fred Olsen, and Aleta Clegg are preparing to teach the curriculum. Lorraine taught the lesson a few times last week and reported "success". Success is defined as the afternoon class giving her 80% of their attention while at the same time being distracted by the sounds from the Odyssey. Aleta starts teaching on Monday. Lorraine gave me the good news on Friday that she has officially "dropped into the groove". That means the Lesson is done, taught to the point that she can do it easily, and flows smoothly. I love to hear that things are "in the groove". 

In the Original Galileo.  July 6, 2007.
Yes, that is an old Mac Clamshell laptop.  Lightweight and reliable

     A special thanks to Matt Long, Soren Seibach, and David Merrell for their Stazi Hypercard stacks. 
     Thank you to our OUTSTANDING interns and employees. Rio Downs joins us this year on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Chris Call is running the Odyssey's version of Stazi. The Galileo will be directed by Matt Long, Alex DeBirk, and Julie Collette. They, as always, will be under the supervision of the Galileo Set Director, Kyle Herring. Our other Interns are: A.J. , Landon, Metta, Josh Babb. 

A second generation IMac.
Galileo. July 6, 2007

     A Thank You to Bill Schuler and Chris Call for the videotapes that accompany the mission stories. And of course, the maintenance of the simulators and technology are covered by Kyle Herring.

The Odyssey Captain Readies for Launch
3 Day Camp. July 2007

     Well Troops, we have opened. The year is off to a good start. We started the flights with our very own Central Elementary School's fifth and sixth graders. They always come first so we can correct any problems in the lesson and missions. This week we continue with Sharon and Sunset View Elementary Schools. 

The Odyssey's lighting Control Panel inside the ship to the left of the Captain's chair.

     Since the last Journal we celebrated our staff during the Honor's Night of September 14. Several volunteers were advanced. Lorraine Houston received her ten-year service pin. James Porter officially retired. Steven Porter was presented a gift from the staff and officially placed on leave for his mission. We also created our first Five Bar Ranger – Alex DeBirk. He has been certified a Flight Director for the Galileo. All first year flight directors are 
automatically promoted to that level. Green Shirts are reserved for Set Directors and Space Center teachers. Rio Downs was awarded the Silver Chalice of Zod for her dedication to our customers and her team building spirit with the staff. 

The Magellan's Admiral
July 2007

     We are finally finished with all summer programs with the completion of this last overnight camp. The first overnight camp of October starts the school year season with the gifted class from Lindon Elementary School. We are running the following missions this season:

      1. Voyager: Mercy Strike, Shadows, Greenpeace, and Canada. (I'll be mixing 
          them up a bit so I don't forget them.
      2. Magellan: Battleship Potempkin.
      3. Odyssey: Masquerade.
      4. Galileo: Mercy Strike and Maximus.
      5. Falcon: The Helix Nebula.

One of the three Magellan crews on the 3 day camp.
July 2007

     Josh Webb completed his last overnight mission on Saturday. Josh is retired from the Space Center. He is preparing to leave for an LDS mission on October 30th. Josh just started his ninth year at the Center. He began as a fifth grader in September 1993. Josh did an outstanding job as my Supervisor in the Voyager for the last couple of years. Brady Young will be taking his place as Supervisor. 

The Odyssey Captain issuing orders from the front section.
July 2007

     Josh will be "officially" retired during Honor's Night on October 24th. Please mark your calendar and plan on attending. Always check the YahooGroup calendar for any changes and updates. I'll have more to say about Josh at Honor's Night. 

The Odyssey in Flight
July 2007

     We are in my favorite time of year. I enjoy the cool temperatures and the fall colors. I enjoy football season and the feel in the air as a new school year starts. I want to wish all of you a good year. Work hard in your studies. Make the right decisions always without regard to whether they are the popular ones or not. 

Best Wishes,
Mr. Williamson

The Odyssey's Engineer Peering Out from the Engineering Pod
July 2007

The Imaginarium