Contact Victor Williamson with your questions about simulator based experiential education programs for your school.
SpaceCampUtah@gmail.com

Sunday, February 12, 2017

February's Honor's Night at the Space Center. Jordan Receives a Five Year Award. Farpoint's New Programming Club. Imaginarium Theater.

The Faithful Gather for the Party Conference
Jordan Smith Receives his 5 Years of Service Pin

     Sadly Mr. Williamson missed February's Honor's Night at the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center. I was aboard the USS Voyager on a dangerous mission to the outlands of space with the Farpoint Club's 5th Grade Lion Squadron at Renaissance Academy.
While we defended the virtues which made our Federation great, the staff and volunteers of the CMSEC met to honor their best and brightest.  
     The Troubadour wants to thank Lissa for stepping in and recording the event for the Space Center's historical record kept religiously here on The Troubadour


     Jordan Smith received his 5 Years of Service Pin from Space Center Director James Porter.
     Jordan started volunteering at the Space Center during my reign way back in the winter of 2012. Yesterday he reminded me that he was the first in his family to volunteer, not his big brother James. Jordan was a quiet 14 year old back then; so quiet that I poked some fun at him when he got his Phoenix Pin from Mr. Dave Daymont back in June 2012

From The Troubadour. June 2012
Jordan in June 2012

This is Mr. Daymont congratulating young Jordan Smith on the occasion of his receiving a Phoenix Pin.  Jordan is one of those volunteers who never stops talking.  He talks and talks and talks and talks - almost non-stop.

"I can never get a word in edgewise," Mr. Daymont confided in me just last week.  "What do I do?  You've got to help me.  He knows something about everything.  I bring up a subject I'm sure he knows nothing about and OFF HE GOES throwing out facts, figures, prose, poetry and dialog."  

I promised Mr. Daymont I'd figure out a way to contain Jordan's abundant, vocal, and demonstrative enthusiasm.  I could be rich if his energy could be bottled and sold as an elixir for diminished attentiveness.  

     Finally, having known and worked with Jordan for five years, I want this history to record that of all the hundreds and hundreds of volunteers and staff I've had the pleasure of working with over the last twenty-six plus years, Jordan ranks at or near the top when it comes to those qualities which make a person truly likeable and genuine; kindness, generosity, warm heartedness, and dedication. If these deep space missions were real, Jordan would be on my must have list of bridge officers.  
     Congratulations Jordan on your 5 year CMSEC anniversary. 

Mr. Williamson

Other Honorees at February Honor's Night


     This is Scott. Scott earned his long overdue Magellan Pin (considering he's been working as a Magellan supervisor for the past little while; little while because I don't remember when he got that coveted blue shirt).  Scott's a great guy and hard worker. Dedication is his middle name. I'll bet you didn't know that.  


     Victoria was happy to get her 100 hours of volunteering patch, AND to make the evening even sweeter, Mr. Porter threw in her Apprentice Badge for good measure.  Victoria has one of those names you never forget; classy, distinct, and regal.  When you hear it, your respect for whomever carries the name increases tenfold.  Funny how I get that same reaction when people hear my name....
     Victoria is in the running for the friendliest staff / volunteer at the CMSEC.  Her competitors in the field are Lindsey and Audrey.  On one of my Saturday visits to the Space Center I'm going to call ahead and have the three of them meet me in the lobby for a "Who Gives the Warmest, Friendliest, and Believable Sincere Greeting".  It's one of those events I think Mr. Porter could sell tickets to as a fund raiser. Who wouldn't want to see that?



   This is Audrey getting her Magellan Pin.  Audrey and Victoria share the same bubbly personality and cheerfulness.  Audrey has been a role model of volunteering and staff perfection since her first days at the Space Center. Her excitement for the CMSEC's mission knows no bounds.  She would be an excellent poster child for the program if one existed.         I need Audrey working beside me in my math classes at Renaissance Academy - not because of her math skills (I don't know what they are). Instead, I need her to stand in the doorway as my 80 students arrive throughout the day and get them hyped for figures, operations, variables, expressions, powers, factors, multiples, percents, circumferences, etc.  I know my SAGE course would trible with her cheering the students on. Congratulations Audrey.


      And with the awards given and the honorees honored, the event closed with bombardment in the gym I'm sure.

Mr. Williamson

The Farpoint Space Education Center at Renaissance Academy's Programming Club.
Class II. Music and Sound.


Our 34 new programmers at work Saturday morning

     The Farpoint Space Education Center at Renaissance Academy, Lehi started its second programming class on Saturday.  Thirty four Farpoint Cadets ranging in age from 9 to 15 years old are enrolled in the class. Google provides the curriculum.  This eight week course follows Farpoint's first class which ended last Saturday. The previous class taught programming through story creation. This course is focused on programming music and sound.  Visit spaceguard.org for more information on Renaissance Academy's Farpoint Space Education Center.    

Watch our Young Coders at Work












Saturday, February 11, 2017

Charlotte Ann Lystrup, A Space Center Baby. A Great Week Onboard the New USS Voyager. The Imaginarium.


Bradyn and Jacqueline Lystrup Announce the Birth of Charlotte Ann Lystrup

     It's always a happy day when The Troubadour gets to announce the birth of a youngling to a Space Center couple.  Today we announce the birth of Charlotte Ann Lystrup, the first born of Bradyn and Jacqueline Lystrup. Both Bradyn and Jacqueline were long time Space Center volunteers and staff. Bradyn was a flight director on the USS Voyager. Jacqueline was a Magellan supervisor. Of course it means they met at the Space Center. That means that baby Charlotte is a member of the most exclusive club of all, children born to parents who met at the Space Center. 
     Charlotte is adorable, taking after her mother like she does. Bradyn is hoping she'll develop his unique outlook on life not to mention a sharp wit and sarcastic bite!  
     Both Bradyn and Jacqueline have been by to visit the new USS Voyager at Renaissance Academy. Bradyn was sure to get reacquainted with Tex on one of the Voyager's LDM missions.  He gave me permission to trigger his reactivation clause and bring him onboard as a guest flight director whenever his working and now Charlotte schedule will allow.  And that we shall do.  It wouldn't be the Voyager without the Voyager's old flight directors back in the saddle.  
     Congratulations Bradyn and Jacqueline.  

Mr. Williamson 

This Week on the USS Voyager

     It was a fun week onboard the new USS Voyager at Renaissance Academy. My staff of Isaac Ostler, Maeson Busk, and Alex DeBirk, along with our outstanding Voyager Club volunteers, worked with some of our best 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade squadrons in Farpoint's 27 squadron Long Duration Mission program at Renaissance Academy.  The cadets are sharp, hardworking, and an absolute blast to fly. It makes such a difference in the quality and effectiveness of flying when you can take your time and really develop a story by letting the kids themselves dictate the pacing and direction.   
 
The 3rd Grade Cobra Squadron's Commanders
The 3rd Grade Cobra Squadron with a Captain ready to blast off!
The 4th Grade Scorpion Squadron's Commanders; nervous but ready for whatever is coming their way
On Tuesday the 4th Grade Scorpion Squadron went on their maiden mission
The 5th Grade Phoenix Squadron's commanders. The 5th Grade Phoenix squadron was the first of the 5th grade squadrons to fly.
The 5th Grade Phoenix Squadron
The 5th Grade Lion Squadron's Commanders
The 5th Grade Lion Squadron
They were a fun team to fly.

The Imaginarium