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Two Members of our Wings of Eagles Family were Nominated to Receive this Year’s Jefferson Awards for Chemung County

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Alison Mandel, Director of Education at Wings of Eagles Discovery Center

We are proud to report that two members of our Wings of Eagles family were nominated to receive this year’s Jefferson Awards for Chemung County. Alison Mandel, Director of Education at Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, was nominated for her work with the Elmira Kiwanis Club. Although not one of the finalists, she was very deserving of the nomination. Alison works tirelessly not only for Wings of Eagles, but spends most of her free time as a dedicated member of the Elmira Kiwanis Club and adviser to the Elmira College Circle K service organization. Of her nomination, Wings of Eagles president Mike Hall said:” Alison has done an incredible job building our education programs from scratch. She is tireless and relentless in her effort to bring the best STEM education practices to the youth in our community. We congratulate her for her efforts and are pleased that she was recognized as a nominee for the prestigious Jefferson Awards.”

Donald Keddell, Chairman of the Board of Wings of Eagles Discovery Center

Donald Keddell, Chairman of the Board of Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, was selected out of the nominations to be one of the six finalists who received the award. Don is a retired educator who continues to be a “community catalyst and champion for education.” As founder and volunteer of the Chemung County School Readiness Project, Don Keddell has worked tirelessly to remove barriers to success and create opportunities for all children to learn, grow and succeed. Over the last eight years, through his leadership, and with the help of many others, this effort has taken root and the readiness of Kindergartners arriving each year in our schools has increased substantially. Education is a passion that keeps Don’s calendar full, serving as Board Chair of the Greater Southern Tier BOCES, Wings of Eagles Discovery Center and the Chemung County Childcare Council. He is also an active volunteer for the Family Reading Partnership, the Horseheads Family Resource Center, and the Arctic League. In addition, Don serves on the deployment team for the Regional Math, Science and Technology (MST) Connect. It is safe to say that thousands of students within the southern tier have benefited because of Don’s commitment to education – both during his career and now in retirement. Don Keddell was recognized for his efforts in support of the children & youth in our community.

The Jefferson Awards for Public Service, which recognizes ordinary people who do extraordinary things without any expectation of recognition or reward, were established by the American Institute for Public Service. The Institute was founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft, Jr. and Sam Beard. This is the 10th year the Twin Tiers has participated in the program and honored area residents.

Photos from the Return of the Red Tails Event with Original Members of the Tuskegee Airmen

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On Saturday, May 24, 2014, Wings of Eagles Discovery Center was proud to host the Return of the Red Tails event that featured a legendary group of African Americans, the Tuskegee Airmen. Nine members of the Airmen were able to attend including Dr. Roscoe C. Brown, a Tuskegee Airman and Red Tail Squadron commander, who was the gala’s keynote speaker.

More photos from the day’s activities can be seen at pressconnects.com

Read about Dr Roscoe Brown reuniting with Bill Strapko at cbsnews.com and at buffalonews.com.

Senator Gillibrand Unveils Agenda to Boost STEM Education While Visiting Wings of Eagles Discovery Center

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On Monday, March 31st, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited Wings of Eagles Discovery Center to announce her innovative education agenda encouraging more youths, especially women, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The agenda will bolster engineering education programs across New York’s elementary, middle, and high schools and encourage the development of computer science career education programs that meet the market needs of employers. During her visit Gillibrand also toured the Discovery Center and interacted with students from Horseheads Intermediate School who were taking part in Hurricane Alert, a hurricane tracking simulation where 5-8th graders use STEM skills to make recommendations to solve the crisis and take appropriate disaster response steps.

To learn more about the Senator’s visit:

Press Release – Gillibrand Announces Innovative Education Agenda To Boost Stem Proficiency For Southern Tier Students

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Senator Will Push For Federal Legislation To Provide Grants For Schools To Promote
Learning And Career Opportunities In Science, Technology, Engineering And Math For
Underrepresented Groups, Strengthen Engineering Programs, And Create More
Opportunities For Education In Computer Science

Gillibrand: “We Must Prepare Our Students For The Jobs Of The Future — Right Here In The Southern Tier”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 31, 2014

Horseheads, NY— Standing at Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined by Greater Southern Tier BOCES Board Chairman Don Keddell and Horseheads Superintendent Ralph Marino, announced today her innovative education agenda to encourage more youths, especially women, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), bolster engineering education programs across New York’s elementary, middle, and high schools and encourage the development of computer science career education programs that meet the market needs of employers.

“New York is home to some of the greatest colleges and universities, a world-class workforce and innovative career opportunities,” Senator Gillibrand said. “But if we’re going to keep our competiveness in the global economy, and keep our skilled workforce in the region, we must prepare our students with the education they need for the jobs of the future. That starts with getting more talented students — from diverse backgrounds – into the STEM pipeline at a younger age, expanding engineering education, and developing programs that will introduce students to the many career opportunities in computer science. We are relying on our children today to be the innovators of tomorrow. It’s our job to make sure they are prepared.”

With eight of nine of the fastest growing industries requiring math and science proficiency and women, minority, and low-income students underrepresented in STEM and computer-related careers, Senator Gillibrand is pushing for federal measures to close the achievement gap and bring more STEM-related K-12 programs, like the NXT Robotics Programs and the Cyber Surgeons e-Mission offered through Wings of Eagles Discovery Center (WEDC).

WEDC strives to educate residents of New York’s Southern Tier through formal and informal STEM educational programs. By providing in-school programs and extended-day programs as well as a number of summer programs, WEDC teaches K-12 students the basics of some of our nation’s most valuable skills while fostering a spring-board for future leaders in these fields. WEDC offers a range of programs including the one here today that consist of e-Missions through their relationship with the Challenger Learning Center in Wheeling, WV. An e-Mission is a simulated group activity where students act as the crisis response team and video conference with Mission Control to make recommendations to solve the crisis using their background knowledge in STEM areas. These programs are aimed at students in grades 3-12 and include crisis situations like Hurricane disaster response, space travel, and emergency medical care. The newest program offering is a “Mars Driver’s License”, which will be issued after completing a unit of Mars science including remote investigation of a terrain park with a robotic vehicle. It will be followed by simulating landings on extraterrestrial bodies and flybys of asteroids.

Last year Wings of Eagles reached approximately 4000 students. Initially courses attracted few female and minority students, with numbers hovering around ten percent. Over the years, proactive measures, including scholarships and precision recruiting have raised the number of female students to forty percent, with a like number for minorities. Women, who represent nearly half of our workforce, make up only 26 percent of the STEM workforce. Minorities are also drastically underrepresented in STEM fields — African Americans and Hispanics together account for about 30 percent of our workforce, but make up only 7 percent of scientists and engineers. Together, African Americans and Hispanics receive less than 5 percent of all doctorates in mathematics, physics, chemistry and computer science. Additionally, students from economically disadvantaged communities struggle to access STEM opportunities, with the vast majority of federal resources channeled into higher education institutions where these populations are significantly underrepresented. Recently in a public/private collaboration with the Greater Southern Tier Board of Cooperative Education Services (GST BOCES), WEDC has joined the fiber optic Southern Tier Network, providing extensive bandwidth to support electronic distribution of courses to deliver STEM curriculum to more students.

To spark greater student interest in STEM, Senator Gillibrand announced three key proposals as part her innovative education agenda. Under Gillibrand’s legislation, Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, in partnership with local schools, would be able to apply for federal grants to strengthen STEM education and boost participation in computer science.

Senator Gillibrand’s STEM Education Agenda

1. Providing STEM Education and Access to Girls and Minorities

Senator Gillibrand introduced legislation called the STEM Gateways Act that would provide funding through the U.S. Department of Education to help schools implement rigorous STEM academics, with a focus on reaching underrepresented groups. Selected elementary and secondary schools in partnership with community colleges, non-profits, and other partner organizations would be able to use federal funding to support STEM, classroom activities, extracurricular and after-school learning, summer programs, student tutoring and mentoring, and professional development for educators. Such focused efforts on expanding STEM opportunities for girls, minorities and economically disadvantaged students will broaden and strengthen the pipeline of American STEM workers.

2. Bolstering Engineering Education Programs in Nation’s Elementary, Middle, and High Schools

Senator Gillibrand introduced legislation that would help boost engineering education programs in the nation’s elementary, middle and high schools. The Educating Tomorrow ‘s Engineers Act (ETEA) would help increase student achievement and interest in innovative, hands – on learning through engineering design skills and disciplines by removing barriers at the federal level and building upon existing federal education policy in several key areas. Legislation would expand student exposure to engineering design skills by requiring states to ensure engineering design skills and practices are integrated into their science standards, provide instructors tools and support to effectively teach engineering, and enable schools to target more resources toward engineering education by expanding the Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program to include all STEM subjects, including engineering and computer science. Legislation would expand both the 21st Century Learning Centers program, which provides funds for after school activities, and the Rural and Low-Income School program to include program funding for all STEM subjects.

Gillibrand’s bill would also bolster federal research in the area of engineering education by amending the Education Science Reform Act of 2002 to include all STEM subject areas for the first time under The Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The bill also directs IES to specifically support key studies and evaluations related to K-12 engineering education, including identifying best practices and promising innovations.

3. Encourage the Development of Computer Science Career Education Programs

Senator Gillibrand introduced the Computer Science Career Education Act that would establish a grant program to encourage the development of computer science career education programs that meet the market needs of employers and better integrate secondary and postsecondary education. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2020 1 in every 2 STEM jobs will be in computing and there will be 1.4 million jobs in computer science and only 400,000 students with a computer science degree. Despite these opportunities, most states do not offer computer science courses as part of their core curriculum in math and science and have focused on offering technology literacy or computing application courses. Grants under this program would be awarded to a consortium between State or local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations and employers in the computer science sector.

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Return of the Red Tails

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Return of the Red Tails

on MAY 24, 2014
at WINGS OF EAGLES DISCOVERY CENTER
HORSEHEADS, NEW YORK
ReturnOfTheRedTails.com

NEWS RELEASE

Tuskegee Airmen, Incorporated

RETURN OF THE RED TAILS

Capt. Claude B. Govan TRI-STATE CHAPTER

Please mark your calendars for an important historical event this Memorial Day weekend

HORSEHEADS — A legendary group of African Americans, the Tuskegee Airmen, are coming to our community to share their uplifting story on May 24 at Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, 339 Daniel Zenker Road, in Horseheads, NY.

There will be multiple festivities and events for the public that day, which will culminate with a Grand Gala at Wings of Eagles Discovery Center.

At this once-in-a-lifetime gathering, six of the original World War II Tuskegee Airmen are confirmed as honored guests at this reunion. Tuskegee Airman and Red Tail Squadron commander Dr. Roscoe C. Brown will be the Keynote Speaker for the evening event.

“It’s amazing that our community will host these Congressional Gold Medal winners, including Dr. Roscoe Brown, our keynote speaker, and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen,” said Michael Joseph II, Corning Incorporated, Sr. Project Engineer and event chairperson.

This incredible event supports multiple local charities such as:

The Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.’s (TAI) Claude B. Govan Chapter’s (CBG) Educational Assistance Fund (EAF). The EAF’s goal is to help young students pursuing higher education in aviation, engineering and technology.

and

Wings of Eagles Discovery Center (WEDC) youth education programs. This program supports the WEDC mission of, “Educating for our Future, while Honoring our Past” perfectly.

There will be a lot to do and see at the newly-renovated Wings of Eagles Discovery Center on the 24th. A new Tuskegee Airmen display will be dedicated, the Tuskegee Airmen’s Faithful Pursuit show car will be on display, and a simulated World War II era Officers’ Club for our Airmen to relax in.”

Additional details for this special event and fundraiser can be found at: ReturnOfTheRedTails.com.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, SATURDAY, RETURN OF THE RED TAILS; TUSKEGEE AIRMEN DAY

  • AFTERNOON PROGRAM: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
    • Youth 17 and under FREE, Adults $5
    • Tour Museum
    • Hip Hop Demonstration
    • Meet and Greet Tuskegee Airmen Veterans
  • GRAND GALA EVENING PROGRAM: 5:30pm – Midnight
    • Event tickets are $75
    • Live Entertainment, Dinner and Dancing
    • Black Tie Optional
    • Recognition of the Tuskegee Airmen Veterans and Other Honored Guests
    • Keynote Speaker Dr. Roscoe Brown, Squadron Leader, 100th Fighter Squadron

Confirmed as the keynote speaker is Dr. Roscoe Brown, one of the most famous Tuskegee Airmen, who was one of the inspirations for the George Lucas film “Red Tails” starring Cuba Gooding Jr. (2012, 20th Century Fox).

HISTORY

The Tuskegee Airmen were dedicated, determined young men who enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps to become America’s first black military airmen. They accepted the challenge during a time when many people thought that blacks lacked the intelligence, skill, courage and patriotism. Over 15,500 Tuskegee Airmen, including civilians, some whites, Hispanics, and women, served in all capacities during World War II.

Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. later became the leader of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II and the first black to be promoted to the rank of General in the newly formed US Air Force. Three hundred fifty of more than 990 pilots who trained at the Tuskegee Army Air Field served in the 332nd Fighter Group, composed of the 99th, 100th, 301st and 302nd Fighter Squadrons.

Throughout their training at Tuskegee, no standards were lowered for the pilots or for any of the others who trained in the fields of operations, meteorology, intelligence, engineering and medicine. In fact because no combat commanders wanted them initially, they endured much more training than their white counterparts. The Tuskegee Airmen will live on forever in the pages of history because they accepted the challenge proudly, and succeeded in proving to the world that blacks could fly. They displayed skill and determination; while suppressing their internal rage from humiliation and indignation caused by repeated experiences of racism and bigotry. These men fought two wars -one against a military enemy force overseas — and another one against racism at home.

For more information please contact Chairperson: Michael A. Joseph, II | Michael.Joseph@ReturnOfTheRedTails.com | 607-444-1751