NEW ROCHELLE, NY (April 11, 2025) — Students and teachers filled the Linda E. Kelly Theatre last month to hear NASA astronaut Dr. Jeannette J. Epps speak to high school students and members of the Albert Leonard 21st Century Boys and Girls Club as part of the district’s Women’s History Month activities.
Dr. Epps, an American aerospace engineer and astronaut, shared her experiences from the SpaceX Crew-8 mission, which spent 235 days on the International Space Station last year. She presented images of space and Earth as seen from the station, captivating the audience.
“Her presentation was both awe-inspiring and spectacular,” said ALMS Dean Kristen Muschio.
Addressing the students, Dr. Epps emphasized perseverance, saying, “If I can do all of this, so can you. If you work hard enough, you can do anything.”
Sixth grader John Mateo McArthur, a member of the ALMS 21st Century Boys and Girls Club, found the experience unforgettable. “My experience in meeting the astronaut was amazing!” he said. “My sister wants to be an astronaut, so I was able to ask some questions about the work that she does in space and share it with my family. It was cool learning more about space travel, and I enjoyed being able to go to the high school.”
Fellow sixth grader Jayden Olenick, also part of the 21st Century program, was equally inspired. “Being with an astronaut helped me to learn that I can achieve my goals if I work hard enough,” she said. “Hearing from a female astronaut was even more interesting for me being a young woman interested in STEAM because she gave us words of encouragement.”
The 21st Century program, an after-school initiative for sixth to eighth graders run through the Boys & Girls Club, currently serves 140 students. It aims to support academic growth and social-emotional development through activities like music, writing, language, sports, cooking, visual animation, drumming, and STEM.