For Information Contact:

Ralph J. Eannace, Jr.,
798-5800

Eannace Welcomes Astronaut to Oneida County As Part of Science Weekend

Oneida County Executive Ralph J. Eannace, Jr. greets NASA astronaut Leland Melvin.

Oneida County Executive Ralph J. Eannace, Jr., welcomes NASA astronaut Leland Melvin during the 25^th Annual Utica College Science Fair – part of a weekend-long series of events designed to spur local interest in science and technology opportunities.

"The kind of great ideas and tremendous enthusiasm expressed by the young people of our area in the science projects at the Fair are just the tip of the great things they can bring to our region and our nation in the future," said Eannace, who joined NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, and Astronaut Melvin as speakers during a Saturday afternoon awards ceremony at the Science Fair. "I salute Congressman Boehlert for his efforts to help bring NASA officials here to our community, and I salute the young people of the Mohawk Valley who are reaching for the stars through dreams that one day could be the next breakthrough in science or technology."

Melvin met on Friday with Oneida County young people in the Adolescent Vocational Exploration (AVE) and Progressive Adolescent Vocational Exploration) PAVE Programs at Utica’s Children’s Museum.

"Take the hard courses," he told them. "You may have a hard time with math, but when you conquer it, you can go a lot farther than if you never tried. If you challenge yourself, you will be amazed at the ability you have inside yourself to succeed."

"Astronaut Melvin shows what can be accomplished by focusing on your dreams and goals, and refusing to stop until those goals are achieve," Eannace said.

During Science Weekend, NASA officials met with local businesses to outline how Mohawk Valley businesses could do business with the space agency.

"This was a weekend of tremendous new opportunities for our young people and our business people," Eannace said. "The words Astronaut Melvin told our young people are true for us all: ‘Aim for the stars.’"