October 26, 2006

Sallie A. Keith
Media Relations Office
216-433-5795
sallie.keith@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 06-062

NASA EDUCATION FACILITY OPENS AT WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY

NASA and Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio, will join forces

on October 30 during the grand opening and dedication of the NASA
Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA) and
its Aerospace Education Laboratory (AEL) that will be located at the
University. The AEL will be dedicated in the name of U.S. Rep. David
L. Hobson.

What: Dedication of the NASA SEMAA project and the AEL

When: Monday, October 30, 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Who: Dr. Bernice G. Alston, deputy assistant administrator, NASA's

Office of Education
Rev. Dr. Floyd H. Flake, president, Wilberforce University
The Honorable David L. Hobson, 7th Congressional District of Ohio

Where: Wilberforce University

King Science Building
1055 North Bickett Rd.
Wilberforce, Ohio 45384

NASA SEMAA is an innovative, national project designed to increase the

participation and retention of historically underserved and
underrepresented K-12 youth in the areas of science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM).

In partnership with Wilberforce University, NASA SEMAA offers three

eight-week sessions during the academic year and four one-week
sessions during the summer. Students meet during school, after school
and/or on Saturday mornings to engage in hands-on, inquiry based
learning sessions designed by NASA in a seamless set of K-12
curricula.

The AEL is a state-of-the-art, electronically enhanced, computerized

classroom that puts cutting-edge technology at the fingertips of
SEMAA students in grades 7-12. The unique learning experience will
allow students to take a trip to the International Space Station or
design an aircraft and plot its flight across the country.

NASA SEMAA also provides parents/caregivers with important information

relevant to their children's education in the Family Cafe, providing
information on NASA and non-NASA STEM related programs available for
their children's participation.

NASA SEMAA is sponsored by NASA's Office of Education, Washington, and

managed by Glenn Research Center, Cleveland. The NASA SEMAA project
is focused on engaging and retaining students in STEM programs to
encourage their pursuit of educational disciplines critical to NASA's
future engineering, scientific, and technical missions. NASA SEMAA
project sites are currently located at 17 sites located in 13 U.S.
states and the District of Columbia.

For more information about SEMAA on the Web, visit:

http://www.semaa.net

For more information about the AEL on the Web, visit:

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/MAEL/

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