NASA astronaut Christina Koch, a 1997North Carolina School of Science and Mathematicsalum, has helped fund a new hammock garden at the Morganton campus, offering students a unique stargazing experience.
The amenity was dedicated last week during ceremonies that coincided with the Solar Eclipse.
Koch partnered with the NCSSM Parent Association as part of the project, which is in the heart of the property.
Kevin Baxter,Vice Chancellor & Chief Campus Officer of NCSSM-M, led students and faculty members during dedication ceremonies.
“Today, as we gather under the celestial spectacle of a solar eclipse, we are here to celebrate not just the wonders of the cosmos, but also the remarkable journey of one of our own illustrious alumni,” Baxter told the assembled crowd.
“She was selected as an astronaut in 2013 and has since participated in several groundbreaking missions, including Expeditions 59, 60, and 61 aboard the International Space Station.
“Her 328-day mission set the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman,” he noted. “Moreover, Christina was part of the first all-female spacewalk, a testament to her pioneering spirit and dedication to breaking barriers.”
Baxter told students Koch expressed her hopes for the institution to continue to be a place where students are encouraged to reach beyond their limits, to learn from failure, to thrive in new environments, to be authentic, and to forge lasting friendships.
“In dedicating this hammock garden, we not only honor Christina’s incredible legacy but also imbue this space with her spirit of adventure, resilience, and boundless curiosity,” he said.
“May it serve as a reminder to all of us that, just like Christina, we have the potential to reach for the stars and achieve our dreams,” he continued, “no matter how distant they may seem.”
The hammock garden’s dedication plaque reads: “This garden honors NCSSM alumna and NASA astronaut Christina Hammock Koch. Her success serves as a shining example to the inaugural class of 2024 to take time to dream and aim for the stars.”
Sandra Wilkerson Queen is the education and business reporter for The Paper. She may be reached at 828-445-8595, Ext. 2002, or via email at sandra@thepaper.media.
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