Commissioner Kanjian Supports Poinciana Elementary School's Educational Programs

	Commissioner Bob Kanjian stands with Ira Klosk, senior volunteer coordinator; former NASA astronaut Lt. Col. Duane "Digger" Carey; School Principal Peter Slack; and Vice Principal Joseph Schneider following the astronaut's presentation on his space flight. Commissioner Kanjian received the Principal's Award for Excellence which states in part "... because of you our school is a better place to learn."

April 21, 2008

Commissioner Bob Kanjian recently visited the Poinciana Elementary School to join some 550 students hear a presentation by former NASA astronaut Lt. Col. Duane "Digger" Carey, U.S. Air Force, Ret.  The school has grades from kindergarten through the fifth grade.

In March 2002, Lt. Col. Carey was the pilot aboard STS-109 Columbia, the space shuttle mission charged with repairing the Hubble Space Telescope. 

As a result of his mission, the Hubble Telescope was successfully upgraded with a new power unit, a new camera and new solar arrays.  During his flight, Lt. Col. Carey circled the Earth 165 times and spent more than ten days in space.

Now retired from NASA, Lt. Col. Carey and his wife, Cheryl, devote their lives to educating young people and other Americans about the importance of America's space exploration and research programs.