FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LINDA GODWIN TO SPEAK AT CRISP BEC ANNUAL FUND-RAISING DINNER

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., March 8, 2002 – Linda Godwin, a veteran astronaut of four NASA space flights and a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, will present the keynote address at the Harry L. Crisp Bootheel Education Center's (CBEC) 2002 Fund-Raising Dinner April 5 at the CBEC.

The CBEC Advisory Council in cooperation with the Southeast Missouri University Foundation is holding the Fund-Raising Dinner in the hopes of raising $200,000 for its new classroom and laboratory addition in the facility.

“The dollars will be used to equip our rice breeder lab as well as our new science lab,” said Dr. Rick Hux, director of the CBEC. “We also would like to purchase technology to equip two new interactive instructional television classrooms and a new state-of-the-art lecture auditorium.

“We have had to expand our facilities because of our added programming, and, with that expansion of space, we now need to properly equip the new classrooms with modern state of the art teaching equipment and technology,” he said.

The dinner is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with a social hour set to begin at 5:30 p.m. The meal is being catered by Patty Cakes Catering of Malden, Mo.

A number of door prizes will be given away at the dinner. Past recipients have received such items as fine jewelry, a computer system, a riding lawn mower, a barbecue grill, framed wildlife artwork and a professional photography sitting.

A Jackson, Mo., native, Godwin is a 1974 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and physics. She holds master of science and doctoral degrees in physics, both from the University of Missouri. She is a graduate of Jackson High School.

Godwin joined NASA in 1980, in the Payload Operations Division, Mission Operations Directorate, where she worked in payload integration (attached payloads and Spacelabs), and as a flight controller and payloads officer on several Shuttle missions.

Selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate in June 1985, Godwin became an astronaut in July 1986. Her technical assignments have included working with flight software verification in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory and coordinating mission development activities for the Inertial Upper Stage, deployable payloads and Spacelab missions. She also has served as Chief of Astronaut Appearances, Chief of the Mission Development Branch of the Astronaut Office and as the astronaut liaison to its Educational Working Group, Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office, and Deputy Director, Flight Crew Operations Directorate.

A veteran of four space flights, Godwin has logged over 38 days in space, including over 10 EVA hours in two spacewalks . In 1991, she served as a Mission Specialist on STS-37, was the Payload Commander on STS-59 in 1994, flew on STS-76 in 1996, a Mir docking mission, and served on STS-108/International Space Station Flight UF-1 in 2001.

Tickets for the dinner must be purchased in advance. To reserve tickets for the CBEC's 2001 Fund-Raising Dinner or for ticket information, call Dr. Rick Hux, director of the Crisp BEC, or Lisa Webb toll-free at (888) 213-4601 or (573) 276-4577.