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Show Science teacher makes her bid for Garn's seat on the shuttle --....-:. - ' . ''A 1 . 4k - by Nan Chalat Now that Senator Jake Gam has broken the astronaut barrier by becoming the first politician in space, everyone wants a chance to fly on the shuttle. In fact, the waiting list is already miles long. But recently one of the names on the list was moved closer to the top. Tuesday night Linda Preston, a science teacher at Park City High School, learned she had been chosen as one of Utah's five finalists to become the first teacher in space. In January, NASA announced that next year one seat on the shuttle will be reserved for a teacher. Preston made her bid right away. "I thought it would be a tremendous experience to bring back and share with my students," she said. She wasn't alone in her enthusiasm. Thousands of teachers replied and NASA decided to narrow the field by asking each state to submit the names of two finalists and an alternate. The Utah Office of Education will announce its selection of those three next Tuesday, Preston said. In the meantime, she and the other four candidates have been asked to have a complete medical exam and to appear for an interview in Salt Lake City on Monday. Until then, Preston and her students are keeping their fingers crossed. "I was so excited to hear that I had been chosen as one of five I was shaking and then I started jumping all over the house," she said. "Even to be chosen as a finalist would be an honor. But I'm afraid that someone will have to die before the alternate would ever have a chance." Preston's enthusiasm for the space program is evident both in the ., sparkle in her eyes when she talks about its scientific advances and by the shuttle pin on her lapel. She'' wears it whenever she travels. f'It has never failed to start a ' conversation," shesaid. v--'0" Preston has already visited a mock up of the shuttle, the same one the astronauts use for training. She was treated to the tour by NASA when one of her student's science experiments was chosen to be carried on the shuttle. After each state chooses its . finalists, all of them will be flown to Washington D.C. for a VIP week and further interviews, Preston said. Of these, 10 teachers will be chosen to begin serious training for the scheduled Jan. 22 flight. But only one will get a chance to fly. photo by Nan Chalat Move over Jake. Linda Preston may be next in line for a ride on the space shuttle. |