NASA Associate Administrator for Education Leland Melvin speaks with 7-year-old Ben at the beginning of a presentation to Mississippi 4-H students at John C. Stennis Space Center on July 30, 2012. Melvin predicted Ben could be a future astronaut, urging students to discover and prepare to make their dreams into reality as well.

NASA Associate Administrator for Education Leland Melvin speaks with 7-year-old Ben at the beginning of a presentation to Mississippi 4-H students at John C. Stennis Space Center on July 30, 2012. Melvin predicted Ben could be a future astronaut, urging students to discover and prepare to make their dreams into reality as well.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- During a Minority Student Education Forum, fifth- through 12th-grade students perform a hands-on activity. The forum focused on encouraging students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, by featuring some of NASA's greatest legends and trailblazers. NASA's Education Office sponsored the forum as part of the agency's 'Summer of Innovation' initiative and the federal 'Education to Innovate' campaign. Photo credit: NASA_Cory Huston

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Attendees of the 2010 Tom Joyner Family Reunion talk with NASA astronaut Mike Foreman at the Gaylord Palms Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. To encourage student attendees to focus on pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), NASA featured some of its greatest legends and trailblazers during a panel discussion at the reunion event. NASA's Education Office sponsored the panel discussion and educational activities as part of the agency's "Summer of Innovation" initiative and the federal "Educate to Innovate" campaign. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Attendees of the 2010 Tom Joyner Family Reunion use astronaut gloves to perform a task at the Gaylord Palms Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. To encourage student attendees to focus on pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), NASA featured some of its greatest legends and trailblazers during a panel discussion at the reunion event. NASA's Education Office sponsored the panel discussion and educational activities as part of the agency's "Summer of Innovation" initiative and the federal "Educate to Innovate" campaign. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller

NASA Stennis summer intern Madison Godbold, right, shares about her work of inspiring the Artemis Generation through ASTRO Camp activities during an Aug. 7 event hosted by the Office of STEM Engagement. Godbold, a student at The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, worked with the NASA Stennis Office of STEM Engagement. The poster symposium highlighted research topics, including propulsion test operations, lunar robotics, autonomous systems, STEM education, and more. NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement paid internships allow high school and college-level students to contribute to the agency’s mission to advance science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Attendees of the 2010 Tom Joyner Family Reunion learn about packing food for space from NASA education specialist Chris Hartenstine at the Gaylord Palms Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. To encourage student attendees to focus on pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), NASA featured some of its greatest legends and trailblazers during a panel discussion at the reunion event. NASA's Education Office sponsored the panel discussion and educational activities as part of the agency's "Summer of Innovation" initiative and the federal "Educate to Innovate" campaign. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Attendees of the 2010 Tom Joyner Family Reunion stand in line to receive an autograph from NASA astronauts Mike Foreman, left, and Leland Melvin at the Gaylord Palms Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. To encourage student attendees to focus on pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), NASA featured some of its greatest legends and trailblazers during a panel discussion at the reunion event. Foreman and Melvin are both veterans of two space shuttle missions. NASA's Education Office sponsored the panel discussion and educational activities as part of the agency's "Summer of Innovation" initiative and the federal "Educate to Innovate" campaign. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Attendees of the 2010 Tom Joyner Family Reunion were photographed and then their faces were put into a NASA "Legends and Trailblazers" poster at the Gaylord Palms Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. To encourage student attendees to focus on pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), NASA featured some of its greatest legends and trailblazers during a panel discussion at the reunion event. NASA's Education Office sponsored the panel discussion and educational activities as part of the agency's "Summer of Innovation" initiative and the federal "Educate to Innovate" campaign. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller

ORLANDO, Fla. -- During the 2010 Tom Joyner Family Reunion, NASA astronaut Leland Melvin talks to attendees at the Gaylord Palms Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. To encourage student attendees to focus on pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), NASA featured some of its greatest legends and trailblazers during a panel discussion at the reunion event. Panel members, sitting from left, are Christine Darden, Lew Braxton, Robyn Gordon, Jim Jennings, and space activist and actress Nichelle Nichols. NASA's Education Office sponsored the panel discussion and educational activities as part of the agency's "Summer of Innovation" initiative and the federal "Educate to Innovate" campaign. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Attendees of the 2010 Tom Joyner Family Reunion stand in line to receive an autograph from NASA astronaut Leland Melvin at the Gaylord Palms Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. To encourage student attendees to focus on pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), NASA featured some of its greatest legends and trailblazers during a panel discussion at the reunion event. NASA's Education Office sponsored the panel discussion and educational activities as part of the agency's "Summer of Innovation" initiative and the federal "Educate to Innovate" campaign. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller

ORLANDO, Fla. -- During the 2010 Tom Joyner Family Reunion, space activist and actress Nichelle Nichols talks to attendees at the Gaylord Palms Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. To encourage student attendees to focus on pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), NASA featured some of its greatest legends and trailblazers during a panel discussion at the reunion event. Other panel members included NASA astronaut Leland Melvin, Christine Darden, Lew Braxton, Robyn Gordon and Jim Jennings. NASA's Education Office sponsored the panel discussion and educational activities as part of the agency's "Summer of Innovation" initiative and the federal "Educate to Innovate" campaign. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller

ORLANDO, Fla. -- During the 2010 Tom Joyner Family Reunion, space activist and actress Nichelle Nichols talks to attendees at the Gaylord Palms Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. To encourage student attendees to focus on pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), NASA featured some of its greatest legends and trailblazers during a panel discussion at the reunion event. In the 1960s, Nichols played communications officer Lieutenant Uhura in the Star Trek television series. Other panel members included NASA astronaut Leland Melvin, Christine Darden, Lew Braxton, Robyn Gordon and Jim Jennings. NASA's Education Office sponsored the panel discussion and educational activities as part of the agency's "Summer of Innovation" initiative and the federal "Educate to Innovate" campaign. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller

ORLANDO, Fla. -- During the 2010 Tom Joyner Family Reunion, Jim Jennings talks to attendees at the Gaylord Palms Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. To encourage student attendees to focus on pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), NASA featured some of its greatest legends and trailblazers during a panel discussion at the reunion event. Other panel members included NASA astronaut Leland Melvin, Christine Darden, Lew Braxton, Robyn Gordon, Jim Jennings, and space activist and actress Nichelle Nichols. NASA's Education Office sponsored the panel discussion and educational activities as part of the agency's "Summer of Innovation" initiative and the federal "Educate to Innovate" campaign. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller