By Kaitlin Hoskins, News Editor
The Challenger Learning Center, which is coming to Rainbow City, has secured a $2.4 million Congressionally Directed Spending award through the efforts of Congressman Robert Aderholt.
The congressional funds add to the overall $11 million raised or secured for the construction of the future center. Construction on the building that will house the Challenger Learning Center is scheduled to begin this fall and the organizations are currently targeting a grand opening in late 2025.
“The sheer magnitude of raising and securing $11 million to build the facility and bring a Challenger Learning Center to Northeast Alabama requires many people willing to work together,” said Jennifer S. Maddox, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama. “As the fiscal sponsor, the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama is contributing our financial, philanthropic, and management expertise to the collaboration. The Advisory Council formed a nucleus of individuals, legislators, city and county governments, businesses, Challenger Center staff, Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama, and many others to make this STEM center a reality for the children in Alabama. We are proud to be a part of this endeavor.”
Challenger Center, a leading nonprofit science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education organization, and the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama are teaming up to establish a Challenger Learning Center in the state of Alabama. The Challenger Learning Center of Northeast Alabama will be situated in Rainbow City and serve students from both public and private schools across 12 counties: Etowah, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, DeKalb, Jefferson, Marshall, Randolph, St. Clair and Talladega.
Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama and a local Alabama Advisory Council collaborated to make the Challenger Learning Center project a reality, recognizing the significant role a meaningful STEM education has in building a robust workforce. In 2022, an advisory council was formed to spearhead the possibility of opening a Challenger Learning Center in Northeast Alabama. The council is made up of 15 businessmen and women working together to ensure feasibility, garner stakeholder support, fundraise, and facilitate the application and build process for the future location.
“The advisory council and our community partners are committed to providing a unique learning facility that complements Alabama’s educational and workforce initiatives,” said Barry A. Cherry, a business owner and chairman of the advisory council. “Fiscal support from federal, state, and local legislative delegations, along with our surrounding communities, have made this opportunity a reality. This Challenger Learning Center is the right fit at the right time for students of all ages and will foster partnerships with businesses and industries in our region to widen the STEM pipeline.”
Joining a global network of Challenger Learning Centers that have impacted over 6 million children worldwide, the new center will offer a range of hands-on STEM programs. At its core are simulated space-themed missions conducted in fully immersive Space Station, Mission Control, Transport and Briefing Rooms.
“We are thrilled to introduce a Challenger Learning Center to Alabama and provide their students with our exceptional STEM experiences,” said Lisa Vernal, vice president of communications and center relations at Challenger Center. “For over 38 years, we’ve designed and delivered programs aimed at igniting students’ curiosity in STEM fields. We eagerly anticipate extending this opportunity to Alabama and contributing to their efforts in shaping the future workforce.”
As a leader in science, technology, engineering, and math education, Challenger Center provides more than 250,000 students annually with experiential education programs that engage students in hands-on learning opportunities. These programs, delivered in Challenger Learning Centers and classrooms, strengthen knowledge in STEM subjects and inspire students to pursue careers in these important fields. Challenger Center was created by the Challenger families to honor the crew of shuttle flight STS-51-L.
For more information about Challenger Center, please visit www.challenger.org or connect on Facebook and Twitter.
