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Summer program allows Belgreen students unique experience in Space and Rocket Center visit

On Friday, July 11, 2025, a group of wide-eyed, young explorers had the rare opportunity to meet real-life astronaut, billionaire entrepreneur, and aerospace trailblazer Jared Isaacman during a visit to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville.

The trip was led by Belgreen schools teacher Michelle Washington as part of the 21st Century Summer Learning Program.

Isaacman, best known as the founder and CEO of Shift4 and commander of multiple private space missions, including the first all-civilian mission to orbit (Inspiration4), took time to speak with students touring the facility. The visit was part of an educational initiative to spark interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers among elementary-aged students.

Students and chaperones were delighted to find themselves face-to-face with Isaacman, who was once nominated by President Donald Trump to lead NASA. The young visitors gathered around him in front of a striking astronaut display and a sleek space capsule replica, listening intently as he shared inspiring stories of perseverance, aviation, and his passion for pushing boundaries beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

“It’s not every day your kids get to meet someone who’s flown in space, runs a billion-dollar company, and is still down-to-earth,” said Morgan Hester, parent of two participating students. 

The encounter left a lasting impression with many students proclaiming their aspirations to become astronauts, engineers, or tech entrepreneurs.

As the nation continues to look toward the stars, moments like these remind us that the next generation of space pioneers may already be among us, clutching souvenir space patches and asking, “How do I become like him?”

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