2009

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  Austin, Texas

  Jim Allan

  BS, M.Ed., Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin

  As the accessibility coordinator at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Jim Allan may be custom-made to be the wizard behind the curtain of Space Camp® for Interested Visually Impaired Students (SCIVIS). He has served in that capacity for almost 20 years. In addition to maintaining the SCIVIS website and coordinating the attendance of more than 200 blind and visually impaired students to Space Camp, Jim serves as the technical expert for the program. Jim’s expertise supported Space Camp’s development of mission software usable by blind and visually impaired students. It is no wonder that Jim adds the Space Camp Hall of Fame honor to the other state, national and international honors he has received for his significant contributions to the visually impaired community and a more accessible world.

  
  

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  Peoria, Illinois

  SGM Jerry Gleason, Ret.

  Both legend and mentor to an entire generation of Aviation Challenge® trainees and staff members, Retired U.S. Army Veteran, Sergeant Major Gleason is part of the reason Aviation Challenge enjoys such a high number of repeat campers. Having proudly served his country for 30 years, he has spent his retirement serving the U.S. Space & Rocket Center® as an employee and as a volunteer. A highly-decorated combat veteran and survival expert, SGM Gleason is the author of the Aviation Challenge Land Survival training and has inspired more than a few young men and women to follow their dreams of pursuing a military career. As a four-time Bronze Star recipient, three-time Purple Heart recipient, and a two-time Meritorious Service Medal recipient, SGM Gleason is more than merely authentic. To those who proudly wear the Aviation Challenge wings, SGM Jerry Gleason is the bona fide, genuine article.

  
  

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  Houston, Texas (Hometown: West Orange, NJ)

  Robert Pearlman

  University of Maryland, College Park

  An accomplished journalist, sought-after space history expert and respected appraiser of space memorabilia, Robert Pearlman was on the first to recognize the internet as a means of promoting space exploration. Editor of collectSPACE.com, Robert attended Space Camp® six times between 1987 and 1993. He founded collectSPACE in July 1999 and has grown it into the leading community and online publication for space history enthusiasts. In addition to his work on collectSPACE, Robert is also a contributing writer for Space.com and Space News. Pearlman created and worked on numerous other websites, including the award-winning Ask An Astronaut. A board member and advisor to numerous space-related foundations, Robert Pearlman possesses a rare combination of zeal, expertise and vision and continues to be an avid supporter and effective advocate of the space program.

  
  

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