These posts are always the most difficult to write. We lost a member of our of Space EdVentures family last week. Ari Cole was a Magellan supervisor at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center and a former member of the Voyager Club during the time we did our Long Duration Missions at the CMSEC. Ari was the quiet one in the room. Watching, listening, and jumping in when she felt there was something to say. She had a great love of the Space Center and its mission. She started as a camper and flew on a mission or two with me on the Voyager. From there she made the transition into the Voyager Club and then volunteering, wanting to help others find the inspiration she had found. Many of her co-workers at the Center attended her funeral. Connor Larsen, her immediate supervisor and Magellan Set Director, played the organ at the service.
Ari getting her Blues at the CMSC Honor's Night
There was a sadness about Ari that spoke of difficulties and trials. Today those are past as she finds love and peace in the arms of her Savior. May we all strive to love and cherish all our brothers and sisters whom God has placed in our paths, for I believe we are His eyes, His hands, His ears, and His voice in the world. Let His love radiate from you to all those He has led to you. And when that day comes when there are no more tears, then we shall all understand that love, charity, kindness, and our time were the greatest gifts we could have given to each other just as Ari gave them so freely to those in her life.
Ari's life reminds me that our Centers, for some, are the safe havens from the storms they battle on a day to day basis. I didn't understand that when I founded the Space Center 28 years ago, but have come to realize it over the years. We are a community of like minded individuals who have found a common passion. May we continue to see that in each other and embrace each other like family in tribute to Ari and her example.
And with that - I say "Aloha" to one of God's precious angels. May she find peace and joy sailing the solar winds through the universe which so captivated her imagination.
Victor
The Testimony Ari Left Behind
Taken from her "Why I Am A Mormon" page.
I love to write and draw, as well as learn about odd facts. Both of my older siblings are out on missions. I hope to one day be a published author, and have people enjoy my work. I'm a fan of capybaras, hedgehogs, guinea pigs, and space centers. I love to make people smile and laugh, and folding origami.
I was born into the church. I am the youngest of three kids. My mother's father was not a member of the church when he married my grandmother (he was Catholic), but he eventually agreed to meet with the missionaries and the rest is history. My father's mother was Methodist, and his father was an inactive member of the LDS church. The missionaries reached out to them and they felt it was right for them. My father tried to be a good example to the kids in his upstate New York neighborhood. I continue to follow the Gospel because I know the standards set truly make us happy and don't burden our minds with things that might make us temporally happy, but not in the long-run. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that the current prophet, Thomas S. Monson, leads the church today. I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Texas Students in Dallas and Ft. Worth Experience InfiniD.
The Good News of Simulator Centered Experiential Learning Spreads into the Lone Star State
Casey Voeks, the greatest missionary in the history of Space EdVenturing, took the good news of simulator centered experiential learning to Texas this last weekend. Danny Harding, InfiniD's chief technology officer, accompanied him to schools in the Dallas and Ft. Worth area. Danny moved to Texas earlier in the year and lives in north Dallas. He leads the effort to assimilate schools in his new home state to the InfiniD Collective. Resistance is futile.
Students in this Texas school are preparing to launch
Setting up an InfiniD Lab can almost be classified as 'child's play' thanks to InfiniD's new simulator software. The control software is browser based. Students sit down, log into the website, access their controls and wait for the teacher's "Go!". The teacher, with minimal training, controls the experience from the flight control computer. Teachers may include curriculum points and questions directly into the software before the mission begins. The questions pop up at critical points in the story. Students answer the questions to advance forward. Teachers monitor the class. It is nearly that easy. Contact the InfinD team you haven't experienced an InfiniD Lab and are interested in arranging a demonstration for your school: InfiniDLearning.com.
The Texas / Kansas Stage coming in to change horses.
Casey will catch the stage to Kansas before boarding a train to Utah
"I see the stage a'comin," Casey's said in his last update. He is anxious to start the long trek back to Utah and into to the loving arms of his wife and family. "I leave behind scores of enthusiastic students and teachers. The seeds are planted and ready to take root. Texas is ready for our message." And with those words I lost contact with him somewhere on the dry plains of the Lone Star State. Safe travels Casey.
InfiniD Learning Pilots a New Program for Utah's Deaf and Blind Students
InfiniD Learning will be providing accessibility to its program for deaf and blind students this school year. A new pilot program is underway at the new Utah State School of the Deaf and Blind in Salt Lake City.
Farpoint and Thorium Open the Door to a New Generation of Multi-Center Flight Directors and Supervisors. Meet a Few of the Best.
Spencer Baird, a level 1 congregant in the Mystic Order of Flight Directors and a Supervisor at the Space Academy, achieved the rank Supervisor Level II by becoming a supervisor at the Discovery Space Center.
Sydney and Maeson Congratulating Spencer on his Level II Status
Uniformity in training and standardization of software and universe is opening the door to a new generation of flight directors and supervisors. The Christa McAuliffe Space Center, Renaissance Space Academy, Discovery Space Center, Telos Discovery Space Center, and Lions Gate Center all use Thorium, Alex Anderson's new software for Space EdVenturing simulators. In addition to the software, the Space Academy, Discovery Space Center and Telos Discovery Space Center operate in the Farpoint Universe, adding another level of standardization in missions and staff training.
Spencer at the Everest's Flight Director Station
Spencer Baird is an example of a multi-center employee. He is a Level II Supervisor and currently is training to become a Level II Flight Director having recently been inducted into the Mystic Order of Flight Directors last weekend at Renaissance Space Academy in Lehi.
Last night Spencer did another of his required flight director certification flights at the Canyon Grove Discovery Space Center. Dylan Hunter, a fellow Level II Supervisor, worked as his IIFX Wingman. Maeson Busk watched intently as Spencer took the crew through their paces. Getting a Level II pass is a serious business. You need to be good, really good.
Space Academy Volunteers Riley, Gavin, and Keegan along with Voyager Club Members Elayna, Harmony
Tyler, Loa, and Caleb came together to support Spencer as his crew. They work with Spencer at the Academy and wanted to be sure he got a good crew for the certification mission.
Discovery Space Center at Canyon Grove runs an outstanding Supervisor and Flight Director training school. Their graduates are some of the best in the business. The Space Academy has arranged for our staff trainees to enroll in the the DSC's training program. Over time, all graduates of this new Staff Academy will be automatically hired at both centers.
A joint training program is another example of how standardization in software and universe leads to volunteer and employment opportunities. While centers will still have their own 'way of doing things' in many areas, most of these will be cosmetic and easily learned by a graduate of the Academy.
Meet Dylan Hunter, a New Level Two Supervisor
Sydney and Maeson Welcome Dylan as a New Supervisor at the DSC at Canyon Grove Academy.
Dylan Hunter is a new Level II Supervisor working as a Supervisor at both the Space Academy and, as of this weekend, a Supervisor at the Discovery Space Center at Canyon Grove. Dylan's goal is to become a Level III Supervisor. He did his first observation as a new volunteer at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center in Pleasant Grove. Dylan is an outstanding Space Academy Supervisor and one of my former sixth graders. I guarantee he knows his math. Maeson and Sydney both report the same from the DSC. Congratulations Dylan and good luck at the CMSC. Meet Jensen Caldwell, a New Level III Supervisor and Level I Flight Director
Jensen running a private mission last Saturday on the TDSC Hyperion
Jensen is another product of standardization in software, training, and universe. Jensen started his journey to celebrity by becoming a Supervisor at Renaissance Space Academy. Over the summer, Jensen was inducted into the Mystic Order of Flight Directors as a Level I Flight Director and Supervisor. His appointment came from Dr. Ryan Anderson at the Telos Discovery Space Center in Orem. Last month Jensen reached the rank Supervisor Level III by accepting a job at the Lions Gate Center at Lakeridge. Nathan and Parriss both report he is doing well. Jensen isn't finished. "I'm going for the rank of Level III Flight Diretor," Jensen said recently. With his Level I at the TDSC secure, Jensen is very close to his Level II at the Space Academy and his Level III at the Lions Gate Center. Jensen divides his time between all three centers. It's a careful balancing act which requires advance scheduling. The advantage is plenty of work. Jensen never worries about getting enough hours. Congratulations Jensen.
Middle School Space Tech, Another Example of Multi-Center Collaboration
Space Tech Class at the Space Academy
The Lions Gate Center at Lakeridge Academy and the Renaissance Space Academy both offer SpaceTech classes for their middle school students. Space Tech is another example of collaboration between Space EdVenture Centers.
The DSC's Sydney Brown teaching Thorium basics to a young volunteer
With a common operating system in Thorium and common universe, Utah's Space EdVenturing Centers find opportunity in cooperation, collaboration, and staff training which benefits administration, staff, and volunteers. The Christa McAuliffe Space Center was my gift to the children of Utah. Over the last 28 years, hundreds of dedicated people have joined me in this endeavor. From its solid foundation, multiple experiential learning programs have arisen making simulator based experiential education available to thousands of students who wouldn't have had the opportunity to visit the CMSC. Working together, the Space EdVenturing community moves forward to enrich the education of today's children and the generations to come. Victor Imaginarium Theater The Best Gifs of the Week Edited for a Gentler Audience
Brad and Ethan Model the New Space Academy Supervisor Shirts
Paris fashion is all the rave but where does one go to see the newest in Spacewear fashion? The answer is the Renaissance Space Academy. Today the Space Academy releases its new range of Supervisor (Grays), Flight Director (Reds), Instructor (Blues), and Director shirts (Whites). Student apparel will be presented on The Troubadour next week. Bracken Funk was the designer. Textile Team Outlet, long time supplier of fine Space Center Spacewear, took Bracken's designs and made them a reality. We start by introducing you to the Academy's newest supervisors. Wearing the Gray signifies one has met the requirements to be awarded the rank of Level 1 at IIFX (second chair to you non-Voyagers). The Gray also signals the wearer is proficient in Space EdVentures philosophy and is competent in Bridge standards of operation. Brad Smith, Ethan Freestone, and Dylan Hunter met those standards and received their Grays in a subdued ceremony held in the Voyager Control Room.
Dylan, nearly overcome with emotion at wearing the Gray
Dylan, Brad, and Ethan are best known for being former 6th grade students of mine from a few years back. May I modestly say, being one not to toot my own horn, that those nine months spent with me set them on the road to success in junior high and high school. Brad and Ethan attend Skyridge High School. Dylan attends American Fork Junior High. Brad and Ethan did their formal training under Isaac Ostler and Bracken Funk. Dylan is a bi-center creation, having been trained in supervising at our sister center, the Discovery Space Center at Canyon Grove Academy in Pleasant Grove. Those folks at DSC did a fine job with Dylan as they do with all who work and volunteer there. You won't go wrong hiring a DSC graduate. Dylan will spend his time at both centers.
Spencer Baird in his Supervisor Gray
Spencer is another bi-center member of the Space Academy staff. He supervises and flight directs at the Academy. He is also training to become a DSC flight director.
Jensen Caldwell is a tri-center employee of the Academy. He works as a supervisor at the Academy, a flight director at the Telos Discovery Space Center, and a flight director at the Lion Gate Center at Lakeview Academy in Saratoga Springs. I've always said it is my honor to get to work with the finest young people in Utah. They are talented and dedicated to the Space EdVentures movement. On behalf of myself, Bracken Funk, Isaac Ostler, Alex Debirk, Spencer Baird, and Jensen Caldwell we welcome Ethan, Brad, and Dylan to the Space Academy family. Mr. Williamson Spencer Baird Received his Flight Directorship in a Presentation of the Microphone Ceremony Held on the Voyager Bridge with Family Present
Bracken Funk, A Grandmaster in the Mystic Order of Flight Directors, inducts Spencer into the Order by presenting him with the Voyager's Microphone
Well as corny as it seems, you can't have a Mystic Order of anything without a weird hat of some kind and ceremonial robes. The Space Academy does it right when a new Flight Director is inducted into the Mystic Order. In a brief ceremony Saturday afternoon, Grandmaster Funk donned the Order's robes and brought Spencer out from the wilderness of apprenticeship and into the Mystic Order. With Spencer's induction comes the rights and privileges of membership, including access to the Control Room fridge AND the right to use the faculty restroom.
Spencer was evaluated and scrutinized by Grandmaster Funk during a mission run for his family Saturday afternoon. With Dylan as his wing man at IIFX, Spencer did everything required to achieve this exalted position.
Spencer's family was please with his performance. Cousin Isaac, the acting captain of the mission, said "Speaking on behalf of the family, we approve of Spencer's performance. He did a really good job!"
Spencer with his new Reds (Flight Director Shirt) in hand.
I invite all Space EdVenturers everywhere to join me in celebrating Spencer's graduation into Flight Directing. It takes time, patience, and commitment to get your FD Reds. It is a privilege to work with this amazing young man. And so say we all!
Mr. Williamson
Watch Spencer's Induction into the Mystic Order of Flight Directing Officiated by Grandmaster Funk on the Bridge of the Voyager at the Renaissance Space Academy
Imaginarium Theater The Best Gifs From Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience
