From here.
Award-winning 'Space Roadies' are star-struck
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
By Bea Boucher
The Grand Rapids Press
'N Sync star Lance Bass spent a morning with a group of Jenison fourth-graders after presenting the students with a first-place award this month for their design of a hypothetical space station module for him.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance," said Rachel Ratliff, 9, who thinks Bass was very cute.
"I had to click it in my mind so I wouldn't forget -- it was so amazing," said Emily Ambs, 10.
Bass, a space enthusiast, was the 2003 youth spokesman for World Space Week, an annual event designed to get students in kindergarten through 12th grade excited about math, science and space flight.
The Jenison students -- Emily, Rachel, Jackie Dryer, Corbin Carrier and Taylor Provost -- placed first in the elementary division of the Lance's Lab competition and were invited to the awards ceremony at the California Science Museum in Los Angeles. Their team was among about 70 nationwide to compete at the elementary level.
In addition to receiving their awards and having their pictures taken with Bass, students listened to speakers who talked about the future of space exploration and the possibility of someday developing hotels and sports arenas in space. After the ceremony, they toured the museum with Bass.
They conceded that they were a bit star-struck when they first met the singer, but they said he helped put them at ease by telling them that their team name -- "Space Roadies" -- was neat and that their poster was cool.
"At one point, he talked about his experience training in Russia and what he did, and we were able to ask questions," said team adviser Karen Ambs.
In 2002, Bass trained to be a cosmonaut at Russia's Star City and was certified by both the Russian Space Program and for a mission aboard a Soyuz capsule. He also underwent training at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
Bass eventually had to cancel his plans to travel to space after failing to raise the $20 million fare.
"He treated the kids with a lot of dignity and honor," Ambs said, adding that the pop star was very personable and funny.
Ams and her daughter, both 'N Sync fans, learned of the competition last fall after visiting Bass's Web site and clicking on the link to World Space Week. Emily, who meets once a week for an academically talented class, asked fellow classmates whether anyone else would like to participate in the competition. The five students met after school to put their entry together.
The students submitted two pictures on what the inside and outside of Bass' space lab would look like.
After brainstorming and doing a lot of research on space travel, the students designed a two-story space lab that featured 18 rooms, including a communications room; a science lab; a room for Bass' dog, Jackson; a game room; and a dance floor with a floating disco ball. There also was a recording studio, an exercise room, and a closet filled with designer space suits.
The exterior of the lab features solar panels in the shape of bass clefs, lasers, heat shields, satellite dishes, a shuttle dock, and an escape pod. The students decided the lab's exterior should be shaped like a limo in deference to Bass' star status.
"It was a neat experience," said Ambs. "I knew she (Emily) would enjoy this and learn and have fun. We had no idea we would end up going out there."
The students said they learned a lot about space and space travel.
"I always thought I'd like to be a scientist, and now I really think I might want to be an astronaut and go to Mars," said Corbin, 9.
"Science wasn't as boring as I though it would be," Rachel said. "I might want to be a scientist."
"There's actually a lot more work to be done in space," said Jackie, 10.
"I saw the future," Emily said.
As they look back, the students agreed that one of the best parts of the trip was that they all got to go out there together to receive the award. Some of the winning groups had only one person there to pick up their award.
"They all said they were glad they did it," Amb said. "It was a lot of work, but it was well worth it in the long run."
Award-winning 'Space Roadies' are star-struck
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
By Bea Boucher
The Grand Rapids Press
'N Sync star Lance Bass spent a morning with a group of Jenison fourth-graders after presenting the students with a first-place award this month for their design of a hypothetical space station module for him.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance," said Rachel Ratliff, 9, who thinks Bass was very cute.
"I had to click it in my mind so I wouldn't forget -- it was so amazing," said Emily Ambs, 10.
Bass, a space enthusiast, was the 2003 youth spokesman for World Space Week, an annual event designed to get students in kindergarten through 12th grade excited about math, science and space flight.
The Jenison students -- Emily, Rachel, Jackie Dryer, Corbin Carrier and Taylor Provost -- placed first in the elementary division of the Lance's Lab competition and were invited to the awards ceremony at the California Science Museum in Los Angeles. Their team was among about 70 nationwide to compete at the elementary level.
In addition to receiving their awards and having their pictures taken with Bass, students listened to speakers who talked about the future of space exploration and the possibility of someday developing hotels and sports arenas in space. After the ceremony, they toured the museum with Bass.
They conceded that they were a bit star-struck when they first met the singer, but they said he helped put them at ease by telling them that their team name -- "Space Roadies" -- was neat and that their poster was cool.
"At one point, he talked about his experience training in Russia and what he did, and we were able to ask questions," said team adviser Karen Ambs.
In 2002, Bass trained to be a cosmonaut at Russia's Star City and was certified by both the Russian Space Program and for a mission aboard a Soyuz capsule. He also underwent training at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
Bass eventually had to cancel his plans to travel to space after failing to raise the $20 million fare.
"He treated the kids with a lot of dignity and honor," Ambs said, adding that the pop star was very personable and funny.
Ams and her daughter, both 'N Sync fans, learned of the competition last fall after visiting Bass's Web site and clicking on the link to World Space Week. Emily, who meets once a week for an academically talented class, asked fellow classmates whether anyone else would like to participate in the competition. The five students met after school to put their entry together.
The students submitted two pictures on what the inside and outside of Bass' space lab would look like.
After brainstorming and doing a lot of research on space travel, the students designed a two-story space lab that featured 18 rooms, including a communications room; a science lab; a room for Bass' dog, Jackson; a game room; and a dance floor with a floating disco ball. There also was a recording studio, an exercise room, and a closet filled with designer space suits.
The exterior of the lab features solar panels in the shape of bass clefs, lasers, heat shields, satellite dishes, a shuttle dock, and an escape pod. The students decided the lab's exterior should be shaped like a limo in deference to Bass' star status.
"It was a neat experience," said Ambs. "I knew she (Emily) would enjoy this and learn and have fun. We had no idea we would end up going out there."
The students said they learned a lot about space and space travel.
"I always thought I'd like to be a scientist, and now I really think I might want to be an astronaut and go to Mars," said Corbin, 9.
"Science wasn't as boring as I though it would be," Rachel said. "I might want to be a scientist."
"There's actually a lot more work to be done in space," said Jackie, 10.
"I saw the future," Emily said.
As they look back, the students agreed that one of the best parts of the trip was that they all got to go out there together to receive the award. Some of the winning groups had only one person there to pick up their award.
"They all said they were glad they did it," Amb said. "It was a lot of work, but it was well worth it in the long run."