ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES 2017 ANNUAL REPORT SECTION HEAD TABLE OF CONTENTS A MESSAGE FROM LEADERSHIP 1 OUR IMPACT 2 HIGHLIGHTS 4 CHALLENGER LEARNING CENTERS 8 SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 10 2017 FINANCIALS 11 NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD AWARD 12 ALUMNUS PROFILE 13 THANK YOU DONORS 14 2017 DONORS 15 LEADERSHIP AND STAFF 00 19 A MESSAGE FROM LEADERSHIP Dear Friends, Thanks to your support, 2017 was an outstanding year! Our Challenger Learning Centers flew thousands of students to the Moon and Mars, and we took major steps toward the launch of Classroom Adventures, our classroom-based programs. All this work is for one goal – to inspire more students! A true highlight of the year was receiving the National Science Board’s Public Service Award. This award is presented to individuals or organizations for exemplary service in promoting public understanding of science and engineering. For the past 32 years, our STEM education programs have reached more than 5 million students, and it is a true honor to be recognized for our efforts. We share this award with each of you, because without you, none of this would be possible. THANK YOU! Virginia Barnes Chair of the Board The work we do today, tomorrow, and in the coming years will impact the future of this country. Employers from all industries continue to tell us what they need: STEM-educated talent who can problem solve, communicate, and work in teams. That need is projected to increase over the next 30 years. This is why we are working hard to reach more students … why we continue to open Challenger Learning Centers … why we are committed to enhancing our out-of-this-world Center Missions … and why the development of Classroom Adventures is so critical. A special thanks to each of you – our partners and supporters – for being a part of our work to inspire the next generation of innovators. We are excited for the future and the opportunity to give more students the chance to take part in our Challenger Center experiences. Today, we reach 250,000+ students each year – a number that makes us proud. But it’s not enough. We want millions! Together, we will reach that goal and spark a passion for learning in a new generation of students. June Scobee Rodgers, Ph.D. Founding Chair Thank you for joining us on this incredible mission! Lance Bush, Ph.D. President & CEO 1 OUR IMPACT Challenger Center STEM education experiences We also completed the pilot of our first continue to inspire hundreds of thousands of Classroom Adventure, Aquatic Investigators. students worldwide. With more than We are now using the input and suggestions 40 Challenger Learning Centers offering our from the teachers and students involved in that space-themed Center Missions, and the pilot to evolve the program. Plans continue to development of our new Classroom Adventures, move forward to create a full suite of Classroom we remain strongly committed and determined Adventures for 3rd to 5th grade classrooms. to ignite the potential in more students around While many students begin to lose interest the globe! in STEM subjects as early as middle school, In 2017, Expedition Mars, the newest Center Challenger Center programs keep students Mission, debuted at eight additional Challenger engaged, pique their interest in STEM subjects, Learning Centers, and the feedback from the and help create a generation of lifelong learners. students is already out of this world! 2 CENTER CLASSROOM MISSIONS ADVENTURES 18,969 1,580 students have already experienced students took part in the pilot of Aquatic Expedition Mars, our newest space-themed Investigators, our first Classroom Adventure Center Mission 4.7 out of 5 91% is how teachers rated student of students surveyed indicated they would engagement in Aquatic Investigators recommend a Challenger Learning Center to (5 being very engaged) a friend after flying Expedition Mars 87% 82% of teachers that participated in the pilot of of students surveyed said Expedition Mars Aquatic Investigators said they would use the increased their interest in learning more program in their classrooms in the future about STEM 3 HIGHLIGHTS Martians of Tomorrow, a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of STEM education and inspiring the next generation, launched by asking parents, teachers, community members, education leaders, organizations, and professionals alike to take a pledge to support students on their journey to become future STEM leaders. In addition to pledging a commitment to inspiring the next generation, the Martians of Tomorrow campaign provides free educational resources and activities. Visitors to the website can also take a Martian quiz to find out what role they would play as #MartiansOfTomorrow. Each Martian role – communications, navigation, biology, robotics, geology, life support, medical, rover, and weather – correlates to a team in Challenger Center’s newest space- themed mission, Expedition Mars. Join the 1,500+ people who have taken the pledge! Visit challenger.org/martians and take the pledge today! Challenger Center celebrated the grand opening of the Challenger Learning Center of Lockport (NY). The ribbon- cutting ceremony included President and CEO Lance Bush, New York State Senator Robert Ortt, Lockport Mayor Anne E. McCaffrey, and the Challenger Learning Center of Lockport team. 4 EARTH to MARS... Challenger Center hosted a STEM During the Summit, students from education panel – Inspiring the Martians E.L. Haynes Public Charter School in of Tomorrow – at the annual Humans to Washington, D.C. took part in a new Mars Summit in Washington D.C. Classroom Adventure, Earth to Mars. The Summit is a comprehensive Mars The students were challenged with a simulated exploration conference that addresses the major Space Launch System rocket launch and an technical, scientific, and policy challenges of engineering design challenge, where they had getting humans to Mars. President and CEO to create the first Mars habitat using 3D printing Lance Bush moderated a panel discussion about pens and drawing programs. Earth to Mars, what is happening and what needs to happen like all Challenger Center programs, puts STEM to prepare today’s students to become the concepts in the context of a real-world challenge, professionals responsible for setting foot while also enabling the students to practice on Mars. communication, collaboration, and problem- solving skills. 5 HIGHLIGHTS Challenger Center recognized Jacqueline Caudill, a middle school teacher in Viper, KY, as the 2017 June Scobee Rodgers Innovative Educator Award recipient. Named in honor of Challenger Center’s founding chair, the award recognizes an outstanding educator who understands the importance of STEM education and demonstrates a passion for teaching Jacqueline Caudill (center left) with Tom Cravens (center right) of Challenger Learning Center STEM subjects. of Kentucky with Viper Elementary School students and administrators. Caudill, nominated by Challenger Learning Center of Kentucky Caudill received the recognition and a $2,500 award during a in Hazard, has been a classroom teacher for 28 years and presentation at Viper Elementary School. Cris Petro, a fourth- currently teaches sixth to eighth grade reading/ELA. Among grade teacher from Bailly Elementary in Chesterton, IN, was her many accomplishments, Caudill worked with Challenger named the 2017 runner-up and was presented with a $1,000 Learning Center of Kentucky to start an award-winning FIRST award. Petro was nominated by Challenger Learning Center LEGO league team at her school. She also led a mentoring of Northwest Indiana. program that connects eighth-grade students with community members in STEM careers. The 2017 Arthur C. Clarke Award for Innovation in Education presented to Challenger Learning Center–St. Louis The 2017 Arthur C. Clarke Award for Innovation in Education was presented to Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis. The award recognizes a Challenger Learning Center that has implemented a new, innovative program or project that impacts student learning, supports teachers and/or promotes creativity. The Center was recognized for the design and distribution of Challenger Learning Center Maker Kits and was honored at our annual conference by Dr. Joseph N. Pelton, the sponsor of the award. Tasmyn Front, Executive Director, Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis, with Dr. Joseph N. Pelton 6 Ooooooh... The team from Challenger Learning Center at Paducah (KY) watching the eclipse with Astronaut Terry Wilcutt. Ahhhhhh! The summer of 2017 included one of the most anticipated events of the year – the total solar eclipse. The blue skies darkened, the temperature dropped, and the bright sun turned into a silver ring as the Moon passed through its path. Our three Kentucky-based Challenger Learning Centers hosted official NASA eclipse-viewing events because of their proximity to the path of totality. Other Challenger Learning Centers across the country hosted events and viewing parties to celebrate the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse. 7 CHALLENGER LEARNING CENTERS ALASKA CONNECTICUT Challenger Learning Center MARYLAND for Science & Technology of Challenger Learning Center Challenger Learning Center Challenger Learning Center Aurora University of Alaska at the Discovery Museum at Howard B. Owens Science 222 Church St. 9711 Kenai Spur Hwy. 4450 Park Ave. Center Woodstock, IL 60098 Kenai, AK 99611-7804 Bridgeport, CT 06604-1015 9601 Greenbelt Rd. (815) 338-7722 (907) 283-2000 (203) 372-3521 Lanham, MD 20706-3397 www.challengerillinois.org www.akchallenger.org www.discoverymuseum.org/ (301) 918-8750 Opened: July 2001 Opened: April 2000 challenger-lc www.pgcps.org/howardbowens Opened: April 1991 INDIANA Opened: July 1989 ARIZONA Challenger Learning Center Challenger Space Center FLORIDA MASSACHUSETTS of Northwest Indiana of Arizona Challenger Learning Center Challenger Learning Center at the 2300 173rd St. 9617 N. Metro Parkway W. at Kirby Smith Middle School Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Center, Hammond, IN 46323-2094 Suite 2214 2034 Hubbard St. Framingham State University (219) 989-3250 Phoenix, AZ 85051 Jacksonville, FL 32206-3798 100 State St.