NEW BERLIN – Though he’d really like to be an exotic plant botanist, architect or technical engineer when he grows up, Unadilla Valley student Stefan Foster said he wouldn’t mind being a pilot on the side.
The sixth-grader recently learned a lot about piloting from one of the world’s best: Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon and pilot of Apollo Mission 11.
“He told me everything about what it was like to be an astronaut and a pilot,” the youth said.
Foster and two other Chenango County youths attended President Barack Obama’s inauguration festivities in January and have returned with memories of a lifetime and loads of inspiration.
“It was shoulder to shoulder,” said Emily Converse, also a sixth grader at Unadilla Valley. Though she said she couldn’t actually see Obama from her position on the U.S. Capitol Mall, the highlight of Converse’s trip was feeling the emotion of the crowd. “Everyone was chanting and cheering.”
The students heard speeches from Aldrin and other astronauts at the Smithsonian Institute and traveled to Capitol Hill to hear from General Colin Powell, Eric Weinmeyer (the only blind man to summit Everest), and Dee Dee Myers, Bill Clinton’s former press secretary. They also attended the Inaugural Ball.
Converse and Cassandra Corey, a sixth grader at Holy Family School in Norwich, said they really liked Powell’s speech about goal setting. “He talked about how we can make a difference and explained the different decisions we will have to make when we grow up,” said Corey.
“If you set a goal, you have a bigger chance of reaching it. I’ve been trying to set goals since I’ve been back,” said Converse.
Corey said Weinmeyer impressed her the most, however. “He talked about how you can do anything you want if you just put your heart and mind to it.”
All three said they would have voted for Obama if they were old enough. When grown up, the girls, who both like science and math, said they might like to go into the medical field.
Foster said his favorite subject in school would be English. In addition to his other career ideas, he said raising ostrichs would be “a good money maker.”
The students attended as part of the National Young Scholars Program based on their outstanding academic achievements and leadership skills. They were supported on the journey by the following organizations: Unadilla Valley Central School, Reese-Marshall, Gus’ Steakhouse, Nina’s, Sears, China House, Norwich Beverage, Wilber National Bank, Professional Tire, The Norwich & Sidney Pennysaver, Inc., The Evening Sun, Fred’s Inn, and P&C.