Montana First Lady Nancy Schweitzer Speaks to STARBASE Graduates

 

Helena, Mont. - A graduation ceremony for the current class of STARBASE

MONTANA students will be held Wednesday, April 30th at 1:30 p.m. at Fort

Harrison.  Approximately 24 5th grade students from the Helena area will be

graduating from this rotation through STARBASE MONTANA.  This will be the

16th graduating class through the program since its beginning in the spring.

 

Montana's First Lady, Nancy Schweitzer, was the keynote speaker at the DOD 

STARBASE Montana's 16th graduation ceremony and attended  the students' rocket launch.
  
The rocket demonstrated many of the skills learned during

this class of STARBASE MONTANA.  

 

STARBASE Montana has completed 27 classes with 592 students thus far

participating in the program.  Currently, STARBASE Montana has 4 classes on

going with 91 students in attendance from Central and Broadwater Elementary

Schools, here in Helena.  

 

"We are pleased at not only the attendance of this program but also the

programs and study we were able to provide to the students," said Mike Stone,

STARBASE MONTANA Program Director.  "We are looking forward to next year."  

 

The program is also expanding and conducting outreach efforts.  STARBASE

Montana has initiated an association with United States Naval Reserve Station

at Fort Harrison.  The USNR recently participated in their first STARBASE

graduation.  In addition, STARBASE Montana is discussing with the Great Falls

School District the feasibility of establishing a STARBASE Montana program in

Great Falls.  

 

STARBASE is a national program funded and supported by the Office of the

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. At STARBASE, students

participate in exciting, hands-on activities in aviation and space

exploration, and interact with military personnel to explore careers and make

connections with the "real world". In addition to learning critical skills in

math, science, and technology, students learn about teamwork, goal setting,

and the importance of staying off drugs.

 

In 1993, Congress authorized and funded the National Guard Bureau to enter

into agreements with the Nation's Governors for the purpose of conducting

programs targeted at youth in general, and youth at risk in particular. The

goals of the program included providing young people with the values,

self-esteem, skills, education and self-discipline needed to succeed as

students and adults.

 

The number of states that participate in the STARBASE program has grown over

the years as the need for a more enhanced focus in science and math has

become more apparent.  STARBASE began in 1992 and since that time, has served

over 350,000 students in 53 academies operating on military installations in

33 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.