Kittredge Magnet School students made contact with astronaut Dr. Andrew “Drew” Morgan through Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) on Feb. 24. They were one of nine schools in North American that had the privilege of participating in the program.

The primary goal of the ARISS program is to engage young people in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) activities and raise their awareness of space communications, radio communications, space exploration, and related areas of study and career possibilities.

Students were able to speak in real time with Morgan and ask a series of questions about aerospace.

One student asked Morgan, “What kind of education is required to become an astronaut?”

Dr. Morgan advised: “I’m very familiar with the requirements to become an astronaut. Actually very minimum, you only need to have an advanced degree in science or engineering. And my advice to anyone interested in becoming an astronaut is to study what you love. You will be more happy in life if you study what you love.”

Charamie Dunlap, sixth grade teacher, led the initiative to bring the enriching program to Kittredge Magnet School.

“I want the kids to be curious,” Dunlap said. “If they are curious, they search for answers. I hope this made them curious about things in the sciences and things they can do.”

Contributed by Christine Clement