Van Buren Elementary School students are going to have an out of this world experience this upcoming school year when they get an opportunity to speak with NASA astronauts floating in space.

Astronauts from Expedition 67 aboard the International Space Station will speak with VBE Wildcats the second day of school on Aug. 11. The news was announced late last month. The NASA STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Engagement at Langley Research Center in Virginia awarded Van Buren Elementary with the opportunity on June 15.

“I am so excited about the opportunity our students will have to communicate with NASA astronauts currently living and working in space,” said VBE Principal Greg Pagnard.

“STEM education is so important in today’s society and who better to emphasize education in science, technology, engineering and math than our nation’s astronauts? This is going to be such an exciting day and a great way to kick off the new school year.”

The in-flight education downlink will be a 20-minute, live video Q&A session between the school and the astronauts. Van Buren is one of eight schools throughout the country to be selected so far by NASA for an event this year.

It is a competitive process to receive a “downlink” — or a telecommunications link for signals coming to Earth from a spacecraft — and requires a proposal.

Expedition 67 began in March and will end this September. The expedition will include research investigations focused on “biology, Earth science, human research, physical sciences and technology development, providing the foundation for continuing human spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars,” according to NASA’s website.

NASA’s purpose for creating this program is to inspire “a new generation of explorers,” according to the press release.

VBE master teacher Sarah Cochran is always looking for opportunities to inspire and educate students both inside and outside of the traditional classroom setting, so when she came across this opportunity she had to submit a proposal for the students in southern Brown County.

“The chance to speak with astronauts aboard the International Space Station does not come along very often, of course, but I knew this was an opportunity that directly aligned to our school district’s mission and graduate profile,” she said.

The school district’s mission is to provide “the highest quality educational experiences where all students are safe, valued, inspired, civically engaged and globally connected.” The NASA experience makes a connection for students that reaches beyond Earth.

Under the graduate profile students who graduate from Brown County High School will display social, emotional and physical wellness; communicate effectively; engage in curricular and co-curricular opportunities; has prepared for success in a 21st century workforce; and seeks to innovate.

“When I think about the speaking and listening and employability skills standards given to us by the Indiana Department of Education along with the governor’s initiative to have all Indiana schools receive their STEM certification by 2025, I simply could not let this world-class opportunity pass us by,” Cochran said.

“I know our teachers and staff can’t wait to have students back in the building for the 2022-2023 school year, and we all hope this back-to-school event will encourage our students to reach for the stars this year. There are many more wonderful things on the horizon for Van Buren Elementary School.”

By communicating with the astronauts, students will be able to explore “STEM engagement and career-connected learning while increasing their capacity for practical life skills that will positively impact their personal and academic growth,” a press release from the school states.

Gov. Eric Holcomb, Sen. Eric Koch and Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner have all been invited to attend the event.

About the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Van Buren’s former principal Gavin Steele said he was proud of the students and teachers for all that they have accomplished in the past few years, including being named a National Blue Ribbon School last year. The school was one of seven to officially be honored as a Blue Ribbon School in Indiana and was one 325 schools in the country to receive the honor.

Steele will take over as principal at Brown County Middle School next school year. He said he looks forward to once again having VBE students in his building when they enter the middle school in a few years.

“I know they (VBE) will continue to reach for the stars, and I can’t wait to see them again at the middle school. I want to acknowledge Mrs. Sarah Cochran for all of her hard work, in bringing this experience to VBES,” he said.

“This is yet another great day to be a Wildcat.”