AMA youth member, Trey Hackman, was selected as one of the 25 student ambassadors for the Back to Space program. Hackman is from Brownstown, Ind. The student ambassador competition was open to U.S. citizens enrolled in grades 8 through 12 and included students from all over the country. The Back to Space program allows student ambassadors to meet astronauts and discuss how to bring STEM into popular culture. Back to Space LLC was founded by Danielle Roosa, the granddaughter of Apollo 14 astronaut Stuart Roosa. The program's objectives are to preserve the legacy of the Apollo astronauts by focusing Americans on the 50th anniversary of Apollo; prepare and inspire high school-age students to focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), Apollo history and the future of spaceflight; and propel the United States to commit to finding a pathway to STEM education. The applicants were able to submit either an essay or video on one of four topics. Hackman chose to do a 3-minute video on the historical significance of the Apollo program. The winners of the program were invited to a gala event hosted by Back to Space on Oct. 19 at Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas, Texas. Hackman attended the gala with his parents. Hackman has been involved in model airplanes for around seven years. He believes that building model airplanes is a great hobby for the younger generation. Efficiency and endurance are what captivated Trey to the hobby. Last summer, Hackman worked at an egg farm to save up money to attend one day at Flite Fest. Trey is excited for the ambassador program because he will have the chance to meet some extraordinary people. Trey Hackman is the youngest member of the Southern Indiana Flying Eagles. By joining the club, he was able to meet people that shared his passion for aviation. Trey also enjoyed being able to connect with people outside of his age range. After high school, Trey plans to attend Purdue University.
