NASA Administrator Charles Bolden will give remarks at the launch of the world’s first “flying classroom” -- an innovative program to inspire and engage students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. The event will be held at 11 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the Signature Aviation Terminal of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.

Barrington Irving, who holds the Guinness World Record as the youngest person and first African American pilot to fly solo around the world, will formally launch the Flying Classroom program, the first-ever interactive STEM learning adventure to span three continents.

Prior to the formal kick-off event, from 9:30 to11 a.m., there will be an interactive career fair and exhibits for more than 600 local students. Media interesting in attending should contact Leigh Gates at 919-625-1742 or flyingcl@gmail.com.

Irving will travel to all seven continents over three consecutive school years. Over the course of his flights, students will have virtual access to Irving’s adventure through videos and a real-time storytelling blog featuring NASA content.

Students in schools that use the Flying Classroom curriculum, which is aligned to the National Common Core Standards and Next Generation Science Standards, also will study STEM subjects relevant to each expedition as they track the Flying Classroom team.

To follow the Flying Classroom adventure, visit:

http://www.flyingclassroom.com

To learn more about NASA’s STEM education initiatives, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education

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