Alan Stern ’75 Surprises Faculty
On August 19, 2015, faculty and staff returned to 10600 Preston Road to prepare for the new school year. Eugene McDermott Headmaster David Dini welcomed colleagues to the first full meeting of the year and reflected on the summer’s biggest scientific story: The New Horizon spacecraft’s historic flyby of Pluto. Leading NASA’s team was Dr. Alan Stern ’75, a Marksman who has been a familiar face on campus in recent years, all while his probe was traveling across the solar system.
“It’s an honor to be invited to help kick off the school year with the faculty,” Alan said after a huge round of applause.
Dr. Stern shared behind-the-scenes details of the Pluto mission, which traveled three billion miles to reach its destination. While the probe’s scientific discoveries were groundbreaking, what most surprised Stern was the public’s reaction.
“The day after we flew past Pluto, we were on the front page of over 450 newspapers. NASA had its biggest media sensation in a generation.”
From the beginning, New Horizons was fraught with political and budgetary hurdles, but thanks in part to Dr. Stern’s strong leadership, the mission was accomplished. Like a true Marksman, however, Stern credits his team and their creative, collaborative, and cooperative efforts for their ultimate success.
“I give all the credit to the team,” Alan said. “Over 2,500 Americans worked tirelessly for four years to build New Horizons. Nights and weekends were the norm. But my team stood up to the challenge.”
As a boy, Alan was caught up in the space race of the 1960’s and yearned for a challenging education to match his ambition.
“When my parents got me into St. Mark’s it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me,” Alan said. “The School helped me to toughen up and become a much better student than I ever knew I could be. I give a lot of credit to St. Mark’s for enabling my career and making me the man I am today.”
Alan thanked the teachers for continuing the tradition of positively impacting students and wished everyone a great school year.
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After watching a video about the New Horizons mission, everyone was surprised when Dr. Stern himself appeared on the screen in front of them, Skyping into the meeting from his home in Colorado.
“It’s an honor to be invited to help kick off the school year with the faculty,” Alan said after a huge round of applause.
Dr. Stern shared behind-the-scenes details of the Pluto mission, which traveled three billion miles to reach its destination. While the probe’s scientific discoveries were groundbreaking, what most surprised Stern was the public’s reaction.
“The day after we flew past Pluto, we were on the front page of over 450 newspapers. NASA had its biggest media sensation in a generation.”
From the beginning, New Horizons was fraught with political and budgetary hurdles, but thanks in part to Dr. Stern’s strong leadership, the mission was accomplished. Like a true Marksman, however, Stern credits his team and their creative, collaborative, and cooperative efforts for their ultimate success.
“I give all the credit to the team,” Alan said. “Over 2,500 Americans worked tirelessly for four years to build New Horizons. Nights and weekends were the norm. But my team stood up to the challenge.”
As a boy, Alan was caught up in the space race of the 1960’s and yearned for a challenging education to match his ambition.
“When my parents got me into St. Mark’s it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me,” Alan said. “The School helped me to toughen up and become a much better student than I ever knew I could be. I give a lot of credit to St. Mark’s for enabling my career and making me the man I am today.”
Alan thanked the teachers for continuing the tradition of positively impacting students and wished everyone a great school year.
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St. Mark’s School of Texas
10600 Preston Road
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000
About Us
St. Mark’s School of Texas is a private, nonsectarian college-preparatory boys’ day school for students in grades 1 through 12, located in Dallas, Texas. St. Mark’s aims to prepare young men to assume leadership and responsibility in a competitive and changing world.
St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
