Allen Crider:  

I've lived in Berthoud, Colorado since 88'. I'm divorced and have a daughter(85'), a son (88'), and 3 grand kids. My academic difficulties in middle and secondary school were related to undiagnosed dyslexia. I served as a U.S. Army Airborne rated Combat Medic from 1985 to 88 in South Korea & Ft Riley, Kansas. Completed my tour, but sustained some service-connected injuries. While in basic training, the Space Shuttle Challenger accident happened in 1986. Later that week, I participated in a military honor guard which transformed me. In folding that American flag, I made a promise to those 7 astronauts to help work in some small way to recover our manifested destiny for humanity in space. After the Army, I pursued undergrad and grad schools that include's Aims Community College (Math, Physics), University of Colorado at Boulder (Aerospace Engineering). Initially, I thought that the best way to accomplished my promise was by getting an aerospace engineering degree, but then I fell in love with teaching doing outreach for Colorado Space Grant at local high schools. I found a passion for teaching and ended up changing my major and my school. Graduated from the University of Northern Colorado-(99') BA in Physics/Secondary Ed. Science. The funny thing is that in high school, I didn't take any science classes that I remember. Teaching high school is something I thought I would never ever do, but I did...Expand for more