Alaska's First-In-Space Teaches and Inspires Local Students Via Distance Learning and Internet Technology
Five-year Partnership between GCI SchoolAccess, NASA and Alaskan Educators Leads to Historic Educational Opportunity

Anchorage, AK - As Pilot William Oefelein prepares to become the first Alaskan in space on Dec. 7, Alaska students are following him in their own way via the Internet and through interactive video conferences with him and his NASA colleagues. Using these technologies, students have already participated in a live educational pre-launch videoconference with Oefelein. Upcoming activities include a live video downlink from the shuttle, an interactive videoconference with Oefelein's mission trainer, videoconferences featuring footage from NASA TV, question-and-answers with Oefelein on a special Web blog, and a post-mission, in-person visit with Alaska students by Oefelein.

These educational opportunities are another chapter in a five-year partnership between GCI SchoolAccess, Challenger Learning Center of Alaska, the Alaska Distance Learning Partnership and NASA. Thanks to this partnership, students in some of the most remote areas of Alaska have been able to learn directly from astronauts on board the International Space Station and Johnson Space Center via live video links into their classrooms, as well as from many in-school visits.

Over the past five years, GCI SchoolAccess has sponsored visits of NASA officials to Alaska schools, including Chief Financial Officer Gwendolyn Sykes and Pilot William Oefelein - both of whom hail from Alaska. Other astronaut visitors were William Readdy, a three-time shuttle pilot with 672 hours in space, Rex Walheim, John B. Herrington and Leland D. Melvin. The videoconferences and in-person visits have been catalysts for exciting math and science curriculum development and lasting partnerships with Alaskan educational institutions. Also during this period, three of Alaska's schools have been named members of NASA's Explorer School Program.

"We're proud of William Oefelein and many of us at GCI know him personally. Bringing NASA into Alaska schools over the years, both over video conferencing and in person, has been a tremendous civic opportunity for GCI SchoolAccess, and we are grateful to Senator Stevens for his successful effort to make this opportunity available to Alaska's schools," said Martin Cary, Vice President and General Manager of GCI Managed Broadband Services. "We're thrilled with how this has evolved over the past five years. This particular launch is really the highlight of our work given its relevance to Alaska, and we expect it will be a significant benchmark in a continuing, interactive relationship between NASA and Alaska schools."

For further information about the mission please visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts116/index.html. To access the William Oefelein Web blog, please visit www.akastronaut.org.

ABOUT GCI SCHOOLACCESS: GCI is the largest Alaska-based and -operated integrated telecommunication provider. A pioneer in bundled services, GCI provides local, wireless, and long distance telephone, cable television, Internet and data communication services. More information about the company can be found at www.gci.com. SchoolAccess is a suite of services designed to advance the educational opportunities of K-12 students. Designed by both experienced technologists and veteran educators, SchoolAccess provides services and features geared specifically with teachers, administrators and students in mind. More information on GCI SchoolAccess products and services can be found at www.schoolaccess.net.