NASA Astronaut Captain Victor Glover Inspires Students at Sierra Sands Unified

For students who live in East Kern, aerospace isn’t a distant industry seen only on television. It is part of their everyday lives. Fighter jets and other aircraft can be heard overhead and seen soaring past classrooms and homes, giving students an up-close connection to the region’s rich aerospace legacy from an early age.

That connection became even more personal this week when Artemis II astronaut Captain Victor Glover returned to a community he once called home. Glover, who was previously stationed at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, visited Ridgecrest to share his journey from military aviation to space exploration with the community that was once part of his own path.

“We lived here for two years on the base, but this was one of our favorite communities that we were in during our whole 28-year Navy career,” Glover said.

Prior to his visit to Sherman E. Burroughs High School Parker Performing Arts Center on Thursday, Glover met with community leaders and participated in a community event co-hosted by the school district and local agencies. Students, families, and community members had the opportunity to hear from Glover, participate in a Q&A, and meet him in person.

Local schools and STEM organizations also hosted hands-on activities, including robotics and flight simulators, giving families an opportunity to experience some of the technology connected to the aerospace industry that is such a visible part of life in East Kern.

While at Burroughs High, Glover talked about his path from elementary school to college and how his experiences during those times shaped his path to becoming an astronaut. The event was also livestreamed to classrooms across the district, allowing even more students to participate in the discussion.

Many students asked questions about the importance of space exploration and what happens when astronauts enter the exosphere. Others were in awe as they viewed images of the lunar flyby and solar eclipse from the historic Artemis II mission.

As Glover was introduced, students in the auditorium screamed, clapped, stood, and cheered. Taking the stage Glover recalled his previous visits to the campus and told students.

“I used to come to this campus and mentor some of the students in the robotics club — I really love being here, and it’s great to be back,” he said.

Glover’s connection to STEM education began long before he became an astronaut. As a fifth grader at Allison Elementary School in Pomona, he participated in MESA, or the Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement Program, where hands-on activities helped spark his interest in engineering. Years later, he returned to MESA as a college student to tutor and mentor younger students. It’s also where he met his wife, Dionna, making his experience with the program a full-circle moment.

For Glover, returning to the community also meant encouraging students to see their education and their community as a launchpad for wherever their ambitions may take them.

“Each kid is going to figure that out at a different time in a different way,” he said. “I just want to encourage them to keep going.”

Glover’s message reflected the district’s emphasis on preparing students with the skills and mindsets outside of the classroom.

“This was an extraordinary opportunity for our students to learn from someone whose story demonstrates the power of education, resilience, and teamwork,” said Superintendent Dr. April Moore.

His story of overcoming challenges, setting ambitious goals, and drawing strength from educators who supported him reinforced the qualities Sierra Sands hopes to instill in every graduate.

Friday, Glover was back in Houston, Texas at NASA’s Johnson Space Center where NASA’s Artemis II crew members will be presented the Congressional Space Medal of Honor by President Donald J. Trump.

Glover said he is grateful to receive the honor, but sees it as recognition of the thousands of people who made the Artemis II mission possible.

Even after reaching one of the most extraordinary milestones of his career, Glover said the experience still feels almost surreal.

“I keep telling people, I feel like this is a dream,” he said. “One day I’m gonna wake up, and when I wake up and realize it was all a dream, I won’t even be mad because it was such a good dream!”

Additional photos courtesy of Ryan Smith, Command Photographer, NAWCWD and NASA’s Multimedia Gallery. Additional photos from the Artemis II mission can be found through the following link: Artemis II Multimedia: Crew Photos, Videos and Mission Highlights

A Sierra Sands School District student gifted Captain Glover this drawing inspired by his presentation.