TOCTWD

Kennedy Space Center hosted Take Our Children To Work Day on July 28, 2000 and the Space Center was alive with activity. This is the eighth year that KSC has supported this activity. This year's theme is "Freedom to Be What I dream in 2000". Normally this event occurs during the month of May; however, the Brevard County School System decided not to allow students to participate this year due to scheduling issues and it was rescheduled for July. This special day allows KSC workers to bring a daughter, son, niece, nephew, grandchild or a neighbor's child to the center to see first hand what they do. The children were treated to tours of the various facilities around the center to include the Astronaut Crew Quarters.

Yvette Whitmore is a eleven year Boeing employee and works as a Records Coordinator for the Boeing Transportation Department. Yvette and her Co-workers  are responsible to ensure that shipments delivered from and sent to Kennedy Space Center are accounted for and meet the shipping requirements. Many of the shipments that they work with are sensitive such as experiments that will be used on the International Space Station. Many shipments require special handling due to their size and construction. Melanie is going into the eighth grade at Jackson Middle School. This is Melanie's third year visiting during the TOCTWD. Yvette hopes that Melanie sees that the activities that take place on the center are TEAM activities. Each and every job is important and has an impact on the product at KSC. The highlight of her day will be her visit to the Astronaut Crew Quarters. Oh yeah - I guess it is only fair to mention that Yvette is one of  my two sisters and Melanie is one of my many nieces!

Betsy King is a Senior Administrative Assistant who works at Hangar "N" on the Cape Canaveral side of the Space Center. Betsy has worked at the center for thirteen years now! Betsy's son, Matthew (center), attends Enterprise Elementary School in Port St. John. Jason Bell (left) attends Space Coast Middle school. Jason's father, Jeff Bell, also works at Kennedy Space Center and as Jason points out "he fuels up the shuttle's external tank". Jason and Matthew were treated to a visit to the launch pads, a tour of Betsy's work area and the Astronaut Crew Quarters. While talking to many of the sons and daughters today I asked them what the highlight of the day was. Jason and Matthew unanimously confirmed it - the Astronaut Crew Quarters!

Patricia Leonard has worked at Kennedy Space Center for eleven years and is currently working as an Education Programs Coordinator for the KSC intern, Minority Access,  Project SPACE,  Project WISE,  Project IMAGE,  NASA TP, Access,  Project Discover,  Valencia CC,  and Florida Space Grant - whew! Quinton will be going into the third grade and attending school at North Lake Park Community Elementary School  in Orlando Florida. Patricia was hoping that Quinton would be able to see the actual Space Shuttle but that didn't happen this time. The Astronaut Crew Quarters was also the highlight of Quinton's day. I am sure Quinton will be delighted to see a very busy launch schedule over the next two years and will get his wish to see many space shuttle launches!

Take a good look at the photographs - you might be looking at a future astronaut, engineer or scientist! Whatever career field these students choose, we wish them all the best!