Day 6

Friday- Well, the time has come to say Goodbye to one another and our 5 astronauts (and myself) are worn out, but going to definitely miss all of the fun we've had here in Huntsville. I came down to meet the students on the bottom level of the "habitat" and they were already exchanging numbers and email addresses with hearing and deaf friends from around the world and promising to stay in touch. It was quite impressive to see 11-17 year old students emote the way these students were. Meeting new friends, bonding in a week's time by the common goal of completing their various missions and team-building activities.

Breakfast continued the Goodbyes, hugs and pictures, and then Team Aldrin headed to the Davidson Center to graduate! Team Von T. and Team Atlas trod down to do a few more team activities and wait until their graduation at 11.

A warm welcome followed by the news that a "Special Guest" would be honoring our presence began the graduation and we (at least I) were thrilled to know that Harrison Schmitt (U.S. geologist, NASA astronaut, professor, Senator, ONE OF THE LAST 3 MEN TO WALK ON THE MOON) would be joining us and giving a short motivational word. Cameraflashes lit the area below the Saturn module Schmitt flew 35 years ago that we were sitting under while he spoke. He shared some laughs and brilliant memories, but most importantly shared the idea that, "we can" regardless of limitations we think we have or the world tells us we have.

I sat, squatted, paced, tweaked, bent and jumped over various people and postures to get pictures as Lee and his crew waltzed their way onto the stage while being announced. Their positions for the mission were called, and each student received their official diploma, confirming their graduation.

Time seemed to work in slow motion between the two graduations, but when 11:00 hit, Team Von. T and Team Atlas were ready to walk in, listen to Schmitt's inspiring words and graduate. I took many pictures as our astronauts became official and Kate's team won not one, but two, awards for having the Best Mission and for being the Best Team in the team-building activities done in Area 51.

We grabbed a quick lunch in the cafeteria and I ran upstairs to the important offices of the Camp Director, big wigs of the Space Camp and website designer and downloaded all of the pictures and videos I'd taken because the director of the Deaf Space Camp week was "so impressed" by my work. Hopefully that means our students/kids will be on the website soon, to advertise next year's Deaf Space Camp week!

The bus ride home was rowdy (to put it mildly) but also each student at one time or another (definitely not all at the same time) took a nap and worked on schoolwork. Lee rode with his mother because she made the trip to Huntsville to see his graduation, so we logged our journey home sans Lee. We dropped off Kate in Greenville and the kids were literally jumping for joy (to be away from me?) when we pulled into SCSDB about 10:00pm. Thanks to the wonderful support at SCSDB, parents and the students themselves, we've made this trip a success.

Here's looking towards next year!!