This Echo is READ ONLY !   NO Un-Authorized Messages Please!
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sonja Alexander/Renee Juhans
Headquarters, Washington                      July 10, 2003
(Phone: 202/358-1761/1712)

Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)

RELEASE: 03-231

NASA AND NAACP FOCUS ON THE FUTURE

     NASA is teaming with the NAACP to show its commitment to 
diversity by making scientific, technological and engineering 
opportunities accessible to all, as well as inspiring 
underrepresented communities to prepare for a high tech 
tomorrow.

To inspire the next generation of explorers, NASA will 
feature a Space Shuttle launch experience theater during the 
NAACP annual convention July 12-17, 2003, at the Miami Beach 
Convention Center, Miami Beach, Fla. The exhibit features a 
virtual reality station and "hands on" interactive technology 
to help stimulate interest in science, math and technology 
education.

NASA is sponsoring 14 science judges for the National 
Association for the Advancement of Colored People's annual 
national Afro-Academic Cultural, Technological and Scientific 
Olympics competition during the convention. African-American 
students from across the country will compete for national 
honors in 25 categories ranging from science and engineering 
to dance and the cultural arts.

The NAACP Program Information Exchange Center will house the 
NASA Kennedy Space Center Student Programs Exploration 
Station. Students will be able to participate in a variety of 
hands-on activities, using aerospace hardware, that 
complements instruction in rocketry, human space flight, 
exploration, science, technology and mathematics.

NASA will also participate in the NAACP 28th Annual Armed 
Services and Veterans Affairs Awards Dinner on Wednesday, 
July 16th. NASA Assistant Administrator for Equal Opportunity 
Programs Dr. Dorothy Hayden-Watkins and DOD's Director of 
Military Equal Opportunity James Love will co-host the awards 
banquet.

For information about NASA, education programs, and human 
space flight on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

-end-

 - END OF FILE -
==========

@Message posted automagically by IMTHINGS POST 1.30
---