Utah's US WEST Outstanding Teacher for 1990, Victor Williamson of Central Elementary School in Pleasant Grove, credits watching the television series "Star Trek" as a child with inspiring his love of space science.
Williamson, 31, was awarded $5,000 by the communications company for turning what he described as a "kid's interest" in space travel into the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center at Central Elementary.He said the money will go toward completing a $110,000 space travel simulator that will be available to students from throughout the state. The two-story, steel and concrete structure being built as an addition to the school will become the heart of the center.
As could be expected from a Star Trek fan, Williamson has designed the top floor of the 1,800 square-foot "Voyager Mission Simulator" to resemble the bridge of the television show's famous "Starship Enterprise." Teachers will monitor the student's mock space travels through television cameras donated by US WEST from "Starbase" - an adjoining room. Bathrooms, showers and a kitchen will enable up to 15 students to spend days at a time in the "spaceship."
Williamson's students do not have to wait until the project is finished this summer to experience simulated space travel. Since graduating from BYU and beginning his teaching career at Central Elementary seven years ago, Williamson has taken his students on imaginary voyages.
"I started small, just in the classroom with an overhead projector and a tape recorder," he said, drawing on the enthusiasm for space travel that he never outgrew rather than extensive science training. Using slides and sound effects, he has guided his students through encounters with black holes and other astronomical wonders to teach them about space.
Not all of their travels have been confined to the classroom. His students have gotten a closer look at space travel during field trips to California, Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, Japan and the Soviet Union.
Williamson received the title Wednesday from Gov. Norm Bangerter at a breakfast ceremony. Two Utah finalists in the third annual outstanding teacher competition were also honored, Pamela Giles from Brighton High School and Scott Harris from Logan High School. Each was given a $1,000 grant.
Winners of the teaching award in each of the 14 states served by the company will compete in Denver next month for a one-year paid sabbatical.