WHEN: Monday, Jan. 23, 2012

WHERE: Nebraska Union Auditorium, 14th and R Streets

Capt. Mark Kelly

Lincoln, Neb., January 13th, 2012 —

Astronaut and U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, who has played a pivotal role in the remarkable recovery of his wife, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), following an assassination attempt, will deliver a free lecture Jan. 23 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Kelly's talk, "Endeavor to Succeed," will touch on his career, personal life and the importance of public service. It is part of the Peter J. Hoagland Integrity in Public Service Lecture Series.

The 7 p.m. lecture will be in the Nebraska Union auditorium, 14th and R streets. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, Kelly will sign copies of the best-selling memoir he co-authored with Giffords, "Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope," from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. at University Bookstore on the lower level of the Nebraska Union.

A celebrated American, Kelly retired from a 15-year career with the NASA astronaut corps last year to devote more time to his wife. Giffords has made an odds-defying recovery after being shot in the head in January 2011 as she met with constituents. Her journey in which she has had to relearn daily life skills -- like how to talk and walk -- has captivated the nation's attention and offered new hope for traumatic brain injury survivors.

Kelly flew four missions in space, including serving as commander of Space Shuttle Endeavour's last mission in 2011. He is one of only two people who have visited the International Space Station on four separate occasions. His identical twin brother, Scott, is also an astronaut who served as commander of both the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. They share the distinction of being the only siblings who have traveled in space.

Counting his years as a naval aviator, Kelly has logged more than 6,000 flight hours in more than 50 different aircraft and has more than 375 carrier landings. He flew 39 combat missions in the Gulf War. He has received several medals including the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The Hoagland lecture series honors former Nebraska state senator and three-term U.S. Representative Peter Hoagland, who died at 65 in 2007 from complications of Parkinson's disease.

Prior to being elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 1978, Hoagland worked with Nebraska Common Cause to write and pass the Nebraska Open Meetings Law. In addition, the Omaha native helped to create the Political Accountability and Disclosure Committee, which regulates political activity in Nebraska. While in the state legislature, Hoagland was known for his work on legislation supporting environmental causes and on issues affecting financial service companies in his home district, which included Omaha and the surrounding area. During his time in Congress, Hoagland was known as a student of the issues and for his bipartisan approach to legislation.

Hoagland's friend and former chief of staff Jim Crounse created the lecture series in 2008 with a gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation. The series aims to inspire young people to dedicate themselves to public service. Hoagland cared deeply about public service. He wanted to give the next generation opportunities to participate in public service so they could see the good that can come of it.

The lectures alternate between UNL and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Kelly's appearance is the fourth in the series.

Writer: Jean Ortiz Jones