Challenger Center gala to be held Saturday

By JOSHUA COFFMAN

jcoffman@thenewsenterprise.com

RADCLIFF — Supporters of the Challenger Learning Center will celebrate with the stars Saturday night. 

The Shining Star Gala, the center’s second annual fundraiser, kicks off with cocktails at 6 p.m., and if the skies stay clear, will wrap up with a dance on the patio and a telescopic look into outer space.

The Challenger Center treats kids to math-and-science-based day camps and features a lesson plan where students participate in a mock space mission.

The local center is part of a national network of programs celebrating its 20th year.

Saturday’s gala will honor Lynn Shipp Pendergrass, a North Hardin High School grad who now works as vice president for global product management at General Electric.

“We’re just happy to have her here,” said Teresia Gaines, director of the center.

Gaines noted the obvious connections at the gala, of honoring an engineer who works for GE — a top aerospace company and supporter of youth math and science programs.

“There are not a lot of people going into math and science programs,” Gaines said, explaining the need for such centers. “Basically, it’s about making learning fun for kids.”

Pendergrass, a GE employee for 21 years, manages products and markets worldwide and oversees the company’s consumer home services business.

Gaines said a few tickets are left for the gala, which also includes dinner, a video presentation and awards ceremony.

Individual tickets start at $100 with group sponsorship levels ranging up to $2,000.

For more information, contact the Challenger Learning Center at (270) 351-7827.

 Joshua Coffman can be reached at (270) 505-1740.