“I feel that the ISU Honors Program has really enhanced my overall experience at ISU. It has made my college experience more challenging and (at the same time) rewarding.” - Alex
Lead Flight Director, Challenger Learning Center at Prairie Aviation Museum
Bloomington, IL
“5, 4, 3, 2, 1…..Blast Off!!!” Janet Moore speaks these words every day to middle school students visiting the Challenger Learning Center to embark on simulated space missions. Before her job as a flight director, however, Janet attended Illinois State University as a Presidential Scholar in the Honors Program.
Janet graduated in May 2002, summa cum laude, with a major in mathematics education. She enjoyed being part of the Honors Program and can remember one of her fondest memories being moving into honors house her freshman year. She recalls everyone having a roommate but her! However, she became very close with her honors assistant and is still friends with many of people she used to live with in honors house. She loved the closeness of her floor and seeing her friends in classes with her. She definitely recommends living in honors house!
As the years went on and graduation approached, Janet landed a job teaching math at Bureau Valley High School in Illinois. She thought this was her dream job, but after only one year, Janet got a call from her former supervisor at the Illinois State University Planetarium, where she had worked all four years of college. Her former supervisor informed her that the new Challenger Learning Center was looking for a flight director. She applied and was chosen for the job. What she didn’t realize, however, was that she was going to be doing her “dream job” that she didn’t even know existed!
Janet is extremely happy in her career and wants to pursue a Master’s degree in the near future. Undecided on her area of study, however, she knows she will be the first person in line if NASA ever calls and needs an astronaut!
Check out the Challenger Learning Center
