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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 23, 2008 No. 08-116 KANSAS STARBASE RECEIVES FUNDING FOR 2009 Since 1993, Kansas STARBASE has worked with more than 42,000 Kansas children
in grades four through six, teaching and inspiring them to greater interest
in math, science, engineering and technology. The Kansas STARBASE program
is the largest in the U.S. with locations in Wichita, Topeka, Salina and
Kansas City, Kan. Recent Congressional funding of the program was not enough to support
all 60 STARBASE academies across the nation. However, the Department of
Defense was able to secure additional funding which, in addition to some
cost saving measures, provided the necessary funds to support all STABASE
academies at their 2008 funding levels. Jeff Gabriel, executive director of the Kansas program, was recently
notified by the National Guard Bureau that all four Kansas STARBASE locations
will be funded through 2009 with all current staff remaining on board. "This is great news for the youth of Kansas," said Maj. Gen.
Tod Bunting, the adjutant general. "STARBASE is a program that works,
firing up interest in math, science, engineering and technology in the
next generation of engineers, scientists, astronauts and a host of other
professions that are key to keeping our nation strong. These students
are the leaders of tomorrow and STARBASE is a program that not only makes
them enthusiastic about science, it instills confidence and leaderships
skills, as well. We're sincerely grateful to the Department of Defense
for providing funding to keep this great program going for our Kansas
kids." Kansas STARBASE was launched in 1993 with an academy in Wichita, followed
by Topeka in 1994. In 1997, the Kansas STARBASE program received approval
to add a program in Salina and another program was launched in Kansas
City, Kan., in 1999. For several years, Kansas STARBASE has also partnered with western Kansas community colleges, Pittsburg State University, Fort Hays State University and the Kansas Cosmosphere to provide summer academies in Pittsburg, Great Bend, Liberal, Garden City, Hays, Hutchinson and Pratt. -30-
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