Astronaut Ellen Ochoa coming to Idaho Falls for special evening
Published at
IDAHO FALLS — The Village Improvement Society will launch its inaugural Inspire event Wednesday, Sept. 16, with “An Evening with Ellen Ochoa,” featuring the first Latina to travel to space and former director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
“From Earth to Orbit: A Conversation With Ellen Ochoa” will begin at 7:15 p.m. at the College of Eastern Idaho’s new Future Tech Building. Doors open at 7 p.m.
The VIS Inspire series is designed to bring together people from different backgrounds, beliefs and perspectives to hear uplifting stories that can broaden their view of the world and strengthen connections within the community.
Ochoa became an engineer, inventor and astronaut despite growing up without STEM role models who looked like her. She flew on four space shuttle missions and logged nearly 1,000 hours in space before later serving as director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
A recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and member of the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, Ochoa has become a role model for young people, particularly girls and Latino children interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“We are excited to share Ellen’s incredible story of perseverance and discovery as the first of our annual Inspire events,” said Dr. Lori Barber, president of the College of Eastern Idaho. “Her story is a testament to one of VIS’ core beliefs that when we come together to learn as a community, we can strengthen connections and accomplish great things.”
Tickets are $35 for the general public, $25 for VIS members and $15 for students. Tickets are available through the Inspire event website.
Following the presentation, Ochoa will sign books brought by audience members. Books will not be sold at the venue, so anyone wishing to participate in the signing should bring a copy of a book authored by Ochoa.
More information about the Village Improvement Society, Inspire events, its lecture series and sponsorship opportunities is available on the Village Improvement Society website.
The event is sponsored by Idaho Environmental Coalition, Curtiss-Wright, Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, College of Eastern Idaho, Creekside Counseling and Banks McNally & Dodge.