Thursday evening, May 29, 2025, was Honor's Night at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center. Honor's Night is where we celebrate the accomplishments and hard work of our volunteers and staff. Mr. Porter opened the event with a hearty welcome to all gathered. Then, with a bit of finesse and Porter humor, transitioned the welcome into a brief yet moving review of the purpose of Honor's Nights. Sitting in the audience and nodding their heads in agreement were older Space Center veterans who remembered their Honor's Night all those years ago. They remembered the time long ago when it was their moment in the spotlight. With younger legs and heartier hearts, they sprinted to the front of the original Space Center's Discovery Room to receive their first Honors from Set and Flight Directors who have long since disappeared into Space Center lore.
Ah, good times and good memories.
Mr. Porter kept the evening moving along at a good pace and started with the usual reminders.
1. Dress appropriately so our visitors know you work here and not someone from the street looking for a warm meal, a hand out, and a bed for the night.
2. Take a shower and use deodorant because you stink if you don't and our control rooms are small. "A word of advice," he said to the younger volunteers, "If you're sitting in a control room and you notice people's eyes watering up as they slide their chairs in a direction opposite from where you're sitting - it may be because you stink."
Mr. Porter was proud to introduce Benson as the Magellan's new Padawan at Honor's Night. Benson endured much for this opportunity to stand in front of the congregation with the wise and powerful Director to receive this small metallic Magellan pin to be proudly worn on his lanyard
Those receiving the Cassini Pin
Hyrum , Jonathan S., and Max R., received the Cassini Pin from Mr. Porter. Does something seem strange about this picture? If you guessed Hyrum, you are correct. Hyrum is a Cassini flight director - and Set Director. Hyrum is like that. He likes to do some things in reverse order.
Those receiving the Phoenix Pin
Those receiving the Odyssey Pin
Audrey Henriksen started as a young volunteer way back when, and through hard work and dedicated talent to the Space Center's mission, has made a significant contribution to the Space Center's success. She works as a supervisor in the Magellan and a Phoenix Flight Director. She also has the challenging task of maintaining the Space Center's costume department. It is one of those jobs that when done right, nobody really notices because everything is in its proper place and clean. And if the job isn't done right - everyone notices. Audrey does it right. Thank you Audrey and congratulations on Ten Years to the Space Center
Honoring Megan Warner with the Founder's Award
The Founder Award is given to people who made major contributions to the Space Center over many years. Megan Warner is such a person and was awarded the Founder's Award at Honor's Night. She has dedicated nearly 20 remarkable years to space education in Utah County. In her various roles as a volunteer, supervisor, staff member, and space center director, she inspired tens of thousands.
Megan started just like most of you, as a young black shirt volunteer. From there it was up up and gone! She has held nearly every title the Space Center’s has to give, including one’s I had to make up for her, like Goddess of the Universe, or.....
Commander of Imagination
Director of Cosmic Curiosity
Galactic Guidance Counselor
Supreme Chancellor of Wonder
Simulator Whisperer
At times, Coordinator of Volunteer torture
Correctional Chief for Incorrigible staff
Chaos Wrangler
She with the Weeping shoulder
AstroNerd in Chief
Megan’s journey through her Space Center career has been nothing short of stellar. She is the only individual who has worked at every Space Center School in Utah—except Lakeview. That alone speaks volumes about her dedication, her expertise, and her deep belief in what we do.
For two decades, Megan has shared her passion for space with students by sparking curiosity, nurturing imagination, and igniting ambition in all who have passed through our doors. She has shown us what it means to live our motto—"Creating a SpaceFaring Civilization"—not just as words on a wall, but as a daily, living mission.
The Space Center’s unique philosophy—the Discipline of Wonder—is the engine that powers our journey, and Megan has embraced it. She doesn’t just teach; she inspires. She doesn’t just manage; she leads with heart. Her ability to make space magical and the future tangible has left an mark on countless young people. She has given the vision to dream big and explore further.
One thing I will always be grateful to Megan for is how she worked tirelessly to reopen the Space Center after our massive shut down and reopening from August 2012 to February 2013. She took command of the Space Center when I retired in June 2013 and directed and championed the program until June of 2014. She was the heart and spirit of the program and for that, we all owe her a debt of gratitude.
Megan, Thank you for 20 years of passion and perseverance. On behalf of everyone you've worked with and inspired let me tell you how grateful we are. You are a star in every sense of the word.
Here’s to you, Megan Warner—the heart of our mission, a bright star in our constellation, and a true explorer of wonder.
The Space Center's Rank Advancement Program 2000 - 2013.
With today's post being about Honor's, I thought it may be of interest to today's staff and volunteers to read about the Space Center's rank advancement program from the year 2000 to 2013. Here is the breakdown for advancement levels, what you had to do to get the rank, and the perks of each rank.
Advancements:
1 Shuttle Patch is earned for every 150 points earned and 6 hours in a Voyager Academy Class, Super Space Saturday, or Naval Academy.Pioneer:
• Entry Level Volunteer Organization. 1 Mission Observation in 4 of the 5 simulators.
Voyager:
• Outstanding performance with the customers at the Space Center. Outstanding work performance and work habits in the simulators. Seniority Points and 2 Shuttle Patches.
•Center Director will make the final decision based on openings in the Voyager Society.
Ranger:
•Outstanding performance with the customers at the Space Center. (10 camper care points: A. Lord of the Votes. B. Set Director recognition.) Outstanding work performance and work habits in the simulators. Recommendation from your Set Director. Complete pass off of 2 simulators. Egroup Club Points and 4 Shuttle Patches earned. Mr. Williamson will make the final decision based on job openings.
Ranger: 1 Bar
• $12.00 gratuity per overnight mission. Outstanding performance with the customers at the Space Center. (15 camper care points: A. Lord of the Votes. B. Set Director recognition.)
•Outstanding work performance and work habits in the simulators.
•Complete pass offs from 3 of the 5 simulators. Earning total of 6 Shuttle Advancement Patches earned. Seniority Points. Center Director will make the final decision based on job openings.
Ranger: 2 Bars
• $20.00 gratuity per overnight mission. Outstanding performance with the customers at the Space Center.(20 camper care points: A. Lord of the Votes. B. Set Director recognition.)
•Outstanding work performance and work habits in the simulators. Complete pass offs from 3 of the 5 simulators. Earning 8 Shuttle Advancement Patches. Seniority Points. Center Director will make the final decision based on job openings.
Ranger: 3 Bars
• $28.00 gratuity per overnight mission. Outstanding performance with the customers at the Space Center.
(25 camper care points: A. Lord of the Votes. B. Set Director recognition.)
• Outstanding work performance and work habits in the simulators.
• Complete pass offs from 4 of the 5 simulators. Earning 10 Shuttle Advancement Patches.
• Seniority Points. Center Director will make the final decision based on job openings.
Ranger: 4 Bars
• $36.00 gratuity per overnight mission. Outstanding performance with the customers at the Space Center.
(30 camper care points: A. Lord of the Votes. B. Flight Director recognition.)
• Outstanding work performance and work habits in the simulators.
• Complete pass offs from 4 of 5 simulators.
• Earning 12 Shuttle Advancement Patches.
• Seniority Points.
• Center Director will make the final decision based on job openings.
Ranger: 5 Bars
• Time Card.
• At least 16 years old.
• Outstanding performance with the customers at the Space Center.
(35 camper care points: A. Lord of the Votes. B. Flight Director recognition.)
• Outstanding work performance and work habits in the simulators.
• Complete pass offs from all simulators.
• Earning 14 Shuttle Advancement Patches.
• Seniority Points.
• Center Director will make the final decision based on job openings.
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