WMUR. ISABEL HEARST IS IN CONCORD WITH A LOOK. TEACHERS OFTEN TELL THEIR STUDENTS TO DREAM BIG OR REACH FOR THE STARS, BUT VERY FEW SHOW THEM HOW. MRS. MCAULIFFE WAS MY TEACHER, AND I WOULD HAVE HAD HER FOR TWO YEARS, BUT SHE LEFT ON SABBATICAL TO PURSUE HER DREAM OF GOING INTO SPACE. CHRISTA MCAULIFFE WAS A SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER AT CONCORD HIGH SCHOOL IN 1985, WHEN SHE WAS CHOSEN OUT OF OVER 10,000 PEOPLE WHO APPLIED FOR THE TEACHERS IN SPACE PROGRAM. OKAY, SO WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP, JULIET? ASTRONAUT. CHRISTA WAS ADAMANT THAT HER ROLE WAS ONE OF REPRESENTATION. THAT SHE WAS THE REPRESENTATIVE, A STAND IN FOR ALL TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS. THAT WAS HER MISSION. ON JANUARY 28TH, 1986, CHRISTA MCAULIFFE BOARDED THE CHALLENGER SPACE SHUTTLE, WHICH TRAGICALLY EXPLODED JUST 73 SECONDS INTO THE FLIGHT, KILLING CHRISTA AND THE SIX OTHER CREW MEMBERS ON BOARD. GOVERNOR SUNUNU REMEMBERS THAT DAY AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE CHRISTA IS RECOGNIZED BY FUTURE GENERATIONS. THIS IS A SCHOOL TEACHER THAT INSPIRED SO MANY KIDS, AND NOW AT THE FOOT OF THE STATEHOUSE WILL INSPIRE SO MANY MORE AS THEY WALK THROUGH THE DOORS. THE STATEHOUSE FRONT LAWN SHOWCASES SOME OF NEW HAMPSHIRE’S MOST NOTABLE NAMES, DATING BACK HUNDREDS OF YEARS, JUST AS SHE DID 38 YEARS AGO TODAY. CHRISTA MCAULIFFE BECAME THE FIRST FEMALE GRANITE STATER. SET IN STONE IN FRONT OF THE CAPITOL, CHRISTA’S HUSBAND, STEVEN, AND TWO CHILDREN WERE AT THE UNVEILING AND HELPED THE ARTIST BENJAMIN VICTOR, WITH THE DESIGN. EVERY YEAR, NEW HAMPSHIRE FOURTH GRADERS TAKE A TRIP TO THE STATEHOUSE, AND GOVERNOR SUNUNU SAYS HE CAN’T THINK OF ANYONE BETTER TO WELCOME THE KIDS WHEN THEY VISIT. WE’RE VERY HONORED TO HAVE ALL THE OTHER STATUES ON THE STATEHOUSE LAWN, BUT THEY WERE FROM WELL OVER 100 YEARS AGO, AND YOU READ THEM IN THE HISTORY BOOKS. SHE LITERALLY LIVED UP THE ROAD NOT TOO LONG AGO, AND NOW SHE HAS A PERMANENT HOME HERE AT N
Statue unveiled of Challenger astronaut and teacher Christa McAuliffe
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Updated: 3:31 PM CDT Sep 3, 2024
The New Hampshire State House in Concord showcases some of the state's most notable names, dating back hundreds of years. On Monday, just as she did 38 years ago, Christa McAuliffe made history as the first female Granite Stater to be set in stone in front of the state's Capitol.Watch the story in the video aboveMcAuliffe, who was a social studies teacher in Concord, was chosen to be the first private citizen in space. On Jan. 28, 1986, McAuliffe boarded the Challenger Space Shuttle, which tragically exploded just 73 seconds into the flight, killing her and six other crew members on board. Kristen Jacques is now a teacher in Hopkinton. She said McAuliffe inspired her students when she was chosen out of over 10,000 people who applied for the "Teachers in Space" program."Mrs. McAuliffe was my teacher, and I would have had her for two years, but she left on sabbatical to pursue her dream of going into space," Jacques said.At the unveiling, McAuliffe's husband, Stephen, told News 9 that the legacy she left with her students and the community will live on forever."I hope they take the same inspiration that she gave to her students, which is whatever talent you got, whatever effort you're willing to put in, you can go wherever you want. You can be whoever you want to be, those limitations. And that was her thing," Stephen said.Every year, New Hampshire fourth graders take a trip to the State House, and Gov. Chris Sununu said he can't think of anyone better to welcome the kids when they visit."We're very honored to have all the other statues on the State House lawn, but they were from well over 100 years ago. And you read them in the history books. She literally lived up the road not too long ago," Sununu said.
The New Hampshire State House in Concord showcases some of the state's most notable names, dating back hundreds of years. On Monday, just as she did 38 years ago, Christa McAuliffe made history as the first female Granite Stater to be set in stone in front of the state's Capitol.
Watch the story in the video above
McAuliffe, who was a social studies teacher in Concord, was chosen to be the first private citizen in space. On Jan. 28, 1986, McAuliffe boarded the Challenger Space Shuttle, which tragically exploded just 73 seconds into the flight, killing her and six other crew members on board.
Kristen Jacques is now a teacher in Hopkinton. She said McAuliffe inspired her students when she was chosen out of over 10,000 people who applied for the "Teachers in Space" program.
"Mrs. McAuliffe was my teacher, and I would have had her for two years, but she left on sabbatical to pursue her dream of going into space," Jacques said.
At the unveiling, McAuliffe's husband, Stephen, told News 9 that the legacy she left with her students and the community will live on forever.
"I hope they take the same inspiration that she gave to her students, which is whatever talent you got, whatever effort you're willing to put in, you can go wherever you want. You can be whoever you want to be, [despite] those limitations. And that was her thing," Stephen said.
Every year, New Hampshire fourth graders take a trip to the State House, and Gov. Chris Sununu said he can't think of anyone better to welcome the kids when they visit.
"We're very honored to have all the other statues on the State House lawn, but they were from well over 100 years ago. And you read them in the history books. She literally lived up the road not too long ago," Sununu said.
