NASA astronaut encourages Goodrich students to reach for stars

January 31, 2025

students learned how to set solar-system-sized goals from someone who has viewed stars through a space station window.
 
Approximately 250 students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades listened to a presentation from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut . The Syracuse, N.Y., native became an astronaut in 2009 and recently returned from an eight-month trip aboard the International Space Station (ISS). She launched to the ISS in March 2024 and was a flight engineer on the orbiting laboratory.


 
Goodrich students Janise and Giancarlo said they were impressed with the depth of Epps’ knowledge. Janise is an eighth grader at Goodrich and Giancarlo is in seventh grade. Both felt inspired to pursue lofty dreams after Epps told her life story.
 
“That was a crazy experience,” Janise said. “Being able to meet such an important person who’s done so many things for such a huge program like NASA is really incredible.”
 
“It was pretty cool because I don’t think a lot of people meet people that have gone to space,” Giancarlo said.


 
Epps said she wanted to help students like Janise and Giancarlo realize that their potential is as large and limitless as space. She mixed in stories about her education and work experiences with videos of her hovering in the ISS above Earth.
 
“Today, I was hoping that the kids at least saw someone that potentially looks like them,” Epps said. “Someone who’s kind of like a goofy, normal human being who got to do some extraordinary things, and if she can do it, I can do it too.”
 
David Seizys teaches classes at Goodrich and helped arrange the visit. Goodrich’s gym began filling up with AVID enrollees and honor roll students in the early afternoon, and they soon expressed their excitement level to Epps. Everyone began applauding when she walked through the door in her blue NASA suit.
 
“Honestly, it gave me chills. It really did.” Seizys said. “My AVID kids, I’ve been talking this up so much, they were so excited about this. When she walked in, for them to start cheering and clapping the way they did, that just hits you in the heart, doesn’t it?”


 
The visit happened after Seizys spoke with former NASA astronaut Clay Anderson, who is chief executive officer of the located near Ashland. Anderson mentored Epps when they were both in the space program, and he felt she would be an excellent role model for Goodrich students.
 
“When presented with the opportunity for Dr. Epps to come to Goodrich, I thought this would be a great opportunity to listen to someone who fits in the diverse cultures we have represented at Goodrich who set incredible goals and met them,” Seizys said. “This might challenge some of our students to think outside the box and pursue a career greater than what they originally expected.”


 
The visit with Epps was part of a yearlong program at Goodrich called “GOOD Times.” The celebrations are meant to reward students for positive actions such as working hard, earning good grades and following attendance policies. Goodrich Principal Kelly Apel congratulated everyone before introducing Epps in the gym.
 
“You guys qualified for this because you work hard every day,” Apel said.
 
Epps graduated from Le Moyne College in 1992 and earned advanced degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland in 1994 and 2000. She worked in Ford Motor Company’s scientific research laboratory for two years before joining the Central Intelligence Agency.


 
Epps was one of 120 candidates who interviewed for a spot in NASA’s astronaut corps in 2009. After being accepted, she took part in geologic studies in Hawaii, spacewalk and T-38 jet training, Russian language immersion and multiple robotics missions. She also received wilderness survival training and intensive instruction in ISS systems.
 
Epps told students it was a dream come true when she launched into orbit on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission. She said perseverance was key to her eventual success in space.
 
“It takes a lot of time and a lot of work,” Epps said. “Nothing happens overnight.”


 
Janise said it was encouraging to hear that message of determination.
 
“It really shows that hard work can get you anywhere, and as long as you work hard, you can achieve anything you want to,” Janise said. “I will take that with me for the rest of my life.”
 
Seizys said it was important for Epps to illustrate how her own tenacity and resolve paid off for her. He felt that would plant a seed in many students’ minds for their own futures.
 
“I think that in today’s day and age, our society thinks that something is going to happen quickly,” Seizys said. “For them to be able to see the fruits of all of that labor, ending up in space and staying in the International Space Station, for them to see that it does take a little bit of work. I think that’s awesome for them to be able to see that and know that if they really want to pursue something that’s going to be greater than what they feel they can, it’s going to take that work.”


 
Giancarlo said the time with Epps made him realize that he could wear the same type of blue NASA suit one day.
 
“It looks hard, but it’s definitely possible,” Giancarlo said. “It’s definitely possible.”

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Published: January 31, 2025, Updated: January 31, 2025

NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps smiles with a Goodrich Middle School student after sharing her life story at an assembly. Approximately 250 students listened to Epps talk about her career as an astronaut. She recently returned from an eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station.