Brief Summary of Mr. Gregory’s Remarks

 

 

Mr. Gregory spoke passionately about his days as a young pilot, entering the astronaut training program, and his climb to the second highest post in NASA.  Mr. Gregory spoke about leadership, mentioning that risk- taking is a key characteristic of leaders.  He contends that a risk taker is “one who knows where and how far he or she can go safely but also has the capability of saying--what is on the other side?”   Mr. Gregory mentioned that students are inadequately being prepared and that we must raise the math and science technology literacy of students if they are to excel in those fields.  

 

Mr. Gregory went on to say that we are not doing a good job of preparing our educators to meet the challenge and that we must assist in training teachers to elevate the students to meet the expectations we have of  them.  In closing, Mr. Gregory challenged the students to ask themselves, “What am I going to do that is outside of the box?  What am I going to do to push the pole up?  What daring thing will I do-- and will it contribute to making my kids and grandkids live a better life?”  Following the lecture, a plaque was presented to Mr. Gregory acknowledging his contributions to society as a leader. 

 

Following the presentation of the plaque, students engaged Mr. Gregory in a question and answer session that focused primarily on particular concerns of the space program.  The Leadership Lecture concluded with remarks by Dr. Richard D. Kuchenrither, vice president, Black & Veatch and Dr. James H. Johnson, Jr., dean, College of Engineering, Architecture and Computer Sciences.