Congresswoman Madeleine Dean joined Montgomery County Community College President Dr. Vicki Bastecki-Perez (center) and fifth-grade students from St. Teresa of Calcutta School in Schwenksville at the Challenger Learning Center at Montco Pottstown on April 24 to commemorate Challenger Center’s 40th anniversary. MCCC recently received $500,000 in federal funding to continue the Challenger legacy. Photo by Linda Johnson
Montgomery County Community College commemorated the 40th anniversary of Challenger Center with a special event at the Challenger Learning Center at Montco Pottstown on April 24, celebrating four decades of immersive STEM education and the continuation of the College’s center through $500,000 in federal funding.
The event featured a Lunar Quest moon mission with students, followed by remarks recognizing the milestone anniversary and the federal investment that will help to advance the STEM education for students across the region. Fifth-grade students from St. Teresa of Calcutta School in Schwenksville participated in the hands-on mission, working collaboratively in the simulated spacecraft, space station and mission control settings to explore the moon.
Congresswoman Madeleine Dean joined MCCC President Dr. Vicki Bastecki-Perez, community
leaders, educators and guests for the event. Congresswoman Dean and U.S. Senator John
Fetterman were recognized for securing the federal funding.
“As we look to the next 40 years, Montgomery County Community College remains committed to leading the charge, uniting partners, thought leaders and organizations around a shared vision to meet the evolving needs of students and help prepare them for the rapidly changing STEM landscape,” said Dr. Bastecki-Perez, MCCC President. “I want to thank Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, as well as U.S. Senator John Fetterman, for their leadership and support in securing $500,000 to continue the Challenger Center legacy through the Challenger Learning Center at Montco Pottstown.”
The funding will support expanded programming, enhanced technology and simulation experiences and increased access for students, particularly those from underserved communities, helping more young learners explore STEM, imagine new possibilities, and pursue future careers in science and technology.
MCCC joined the national network of 30-plus Challenger Learning Centers in 2022, when it opened the first and currently only Challenger Learning Center in
Pennsylvania. Since opening, the Center has held 16,000 youth engagements through
577 in-person and virtual missions. Over the years, the Pottstown center has expanded
programs, adding international virtual missions that reach youth as far away as Turkey
and Morocco. The Center serves seven local northeastern counties: Berks, Bucks, Chester,
Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Philadelphia.
“At a time of renewed global interest in space, including NASA’s Artemis missions, private-sector launches from SpaceX and Blue Origin and growing international competition, these experiences are more important than ever for our youth,” said Dr. Bastecki-Perez.
Following the Challenger STS-51L tragedy in January 1986, the crew’s families established
the Challenger Center in April 1986 to honor their loved ones and carry forward their
education mission. Challenger Center opened the first Challenger Learning Center in
1988, and since then, the organization has grown into a national network of more than 30 Challenger Learning Centers, each offering immersive, hands-on STEM
programs. In the past 40 years, they have served over 6.5 million students, many of
whom now shape today’s STEM workforce.
To learn more about Challenger Learning Center at Montco Pottstown, visit mc3.edu/Challenger, email [email protected] or call 610-718-1938.