Perry Storey has been named the new director of the Challenger STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Learning Center at UTC.
Storey served for 18 years as the principal of Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga.
Challenger Centers are non-profit, informal science education centers. They began as a direct result of the Challenger space shuttle tragedy that occurred in January of 1986. The surviving family members decided to create a living memorial in honor of the Challenger crew. Their ideas became a reality with centers of informal science education used to encourage young people to study science, math and technology in their exploration of learning.
At UTC, the Challenger STEM Learning Center is part of the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies. Strong relationships have been forged with both the University’s Teacher Preparation Academy and local school systems. The Challenger STEM Learning Center at UTC is the only Challenger Center in Tennessee. It serves 10,000 students annually.