Norwalk, CT—Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) today announced that the Columbus Magnet School Young Astronaut program has been awarded a $2,000 grant from Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin. This grant will allow students to travel to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, where the Sikorsky X2 demonstrator was included the museum’s collection in 2016.
Senator Duff worked with Columbus Magnet School parents to make the grant possible.
“It is wonderful to see so many young minds inspired to discover science, technology, engineering and math through aerospace and space exploration,” said Senator Duff. “Someday, it may be a Columbus Magnet School alum piloting a spacecraft and exploring distant planets and our cosmos. I want to thank the dedicated parents and staff at Columbus and Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin for investing in the STEM education of these young students.”
Lockheed Martin strongly supports numerous local organizations that help advance STEM education. These partnerships include Girls, Inc., FIRST Robotics, Project Lead the Way, and aerospace-focused programs.
“The Young Astronaut Program is a wonderful hands-on learning experience,” said Yolande LeCoz, last year’s ‘Mission Parent’ who was also involved in securing the grant. “The program works to instill leadership, teamwork, mutual respect and excellence in its participants. I want to thank Senator Duff, Sikorsky, Lockheed Martin and the Norwalk P.A.L for ensuring that the program has the financial means so that no child is turned away.”
