Testimonials

"One of my key educational goals is ensuring that Texas students have the science, technology and math education that makes them competitive in the global market place. The Fredericksburg Education Initiative is a first step toward meeting this goal because it will help prepare our teachers for this exciting and challenging opportunity."
- Rick Perry, Governor of Texas

"Your testimony caused the education conversations of our commission to catch fire. We feel the energy and commitment that you and your students devote to your studies. Furthermore, we see those efforts paying large dividends to our country. We salute you and wish you only the best."
- The Honorable Edward C. "Pete" Aldridge, Jr. – Chairman, Commission on Moon, Mars and Beyond

"We welcome the opportunity to support and encourage our youth of today to pursue careers in the Science and Engineering fields, and this type of program is a very good "hands-in" approach."
- William F. Engel, Brigadier General, US Army Commanding General

"Your program influences your students at the age when they need to make some critical decisions in their life and getting them to consider engineering and specializing in rocket propulsion is very important to our industry."
- Lee Meyer, Vice President Marketing – Aerojet General Corporation

"The knowledge and experience you have gained from your class work and flight is invaluable as you continue your education. Congratulations on breaking the sound barrier!"
- Lamar Smith, Member of Congress

"These young students of yours are being provided opportunities that, unfortunately, too few young people get. The opportunity to not only learn about science and space, but to experience the joy and the thrill of turning this learning into a real vehicle and watching that vehicle soar. Those are the kinds of experiences that will stay with these students forever and will lead them to continue the education they need to become the scientists and engineers of tomorrow."
- Daniel S. Goldin, Administrator - NASA

"Your summer launch is a shining example that 'What Texans can dream, Texans can do.' The future of our state and nation depends on young people becoming active and involved citizens and you are off to a great start."
- George W. Bush, [Governor of Texas, President of the United States]

"Your work in supporting the students of tomorrow is unsurpassed in the ranks of high school science teachers. Your rocket design and flight program has and continues to positively influence students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). It has been said, "The launch of a rocket does not begin at the launch pad, but rather at the classroom door." You are demonstrating the meaning of that statement to all who observe your program."
- Art Stephenson, Special Assistant to the NASA Associate Administrator for Education

"Your work and that of your pupils is something to be very proud of and I am happy to be able to say it is a part of the Texas public education system."
- Mike Jackson, State Senator, District 11

"I believe that your program serves as a catalyst for academic growth and teamwork skills that are essential to our Nation's future workforce. Our country needs more students and educators pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics to protect our security and our way of life."
- A.G. Stephenson, Director – George C. Marshall Space Flight Center

"You will be pleased to know that Jacob Neu was selected as the recipient of one of the 2003 Texas Society of Professional Engineers' Regional Scholarships. The applications were very competitive this year, and your letter of recommendation was of tremendous influence in our decision making. Your influence as a teacher has directly influenced this scholarship process, and clearly has helped to shape the intellectual life of a fine young student."
- Kenneth Rigsbee, P.E., Chairman, Texas Engineering Foundation; Phil Brown, P.E., Chairman, TSPE Scholarship Committee

"I have met astronauts who start crying when they talk about seeing the Earth from orbit. I really want to experience that kind of emotion."
- Justin Junell, Former FHS Suborbital Aeroscience Studies student

"You are to be commended for your efforts in teaching the youth of Texas. Good luck with your program and with future efforts in education and technology."
- Robert L. Crippen, President – Thiokol Propulsion, a division of Cordant Technologies, Inc.

"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to point this out to my colleagues here in the House. I hope that the good citizens throughout the 11th Congressional District of Texas and throughout the United States will recognize these accomplishments, will look for their own communities to say: We have some kids that are as bright and as smart as these kids in Fredericksburg, Texas; I wonder why we cannot beat their record, why we cannot put a 35-pound payload 100,000 feet into the air and recover it intact. It is a great accomplishment that is going on in Fredericksburg, Texas."
- Mike Conaway, US Congressman

"What Brett is doing is great and I'd strongly encourage other programs like his elsewhere, we need to make engineering interesting to students and this is a great way to do it."
- Elon Musk, President Space Exploration Technologies

"I was just flabbergasted with how sharp those students were…they sounded like college engineers about to graduate."
- Jerry Berg, NASA MSFC

"This project (Redbird 1) is everything our constituents are telling us they want in schools."
- Senator Jeff Wentworth

"Lifted by a fiery blast, Redbird 1 soared through a bright blue sky Wednesday, blazing a new trail for technology-based education in Texas. …their efforts have placed Fredericksburg High at the forefront of aerospace technology among Texas high schools".
- Kevin Wishard, Austin American Statesman

"…the most advanced high school rocketry program in the nation."
- Congressman Lamar Smith