NASA's teacher-in-space designee Barbara Radding Morgan visited with Stevenson Middle School students yesterday as part of Ellison Onizuka Science Day.

Morgan, a mission specialist aboard the Endeavor STS-118, gave the students a firsthand account of her mission to the International Space Station last year.

The 12-day mission Morgan took part in covered 5.3 million miles as the shuttle journeyed to the space station to drop off equipment and supplies and install a truss segment, gyroscope and external spare parts platform.

Morgan has been the teacher-in-space designee since the first teacher in space, Christa McAuliffe, perished in the 1986 Challenger accident, along with six other astronauts, including Onizuka, Hawai'i's first astronaut.

The science day is meant to promote and inspire scientific education in the spirit and mission of the Challenger crew. The annual program brings together members of the Big Island scientific community, the state Department of Education, NASA and the University of Hawai'i-Hilo.

Last year, the state and NASA formed a partnership to collaborate on opportunities in space exploration and aerospace-related fields.

The Ellison Onizuka Science Day was sponsored by American Savings Bank for the eighth year. Onizuka's brother, Claude, who took part in yesterday's event, is a former American Savings Bank employee.