While a hallway inside Dick Scobee Elementary displayed a collection of artifacts and artwork to commemorate its namesake, the focus was not on the 30th anniversary of his death.

It was on his legacy.

On Jan. 28, 1986, Dick Scobee and six other crew members were killed aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, which suffered catastrophic booster failure during launch and exploded 73 seconds into flight.

So every Jan. 28, the school in the city where Scobee spent most of his childhood hosts an open house offering tours, NASA memorabilia and student presentations, followed by a reception and a memorial video in the gym.

Scobee’s younger brother, Jim, remembers his sibling as a goal-setter who accomplished his mission through determination and perseverance.

“As far as I know, my brother is the only astronaut who has worked his way up through the ranks,” he said, noting that his brother served in the Air Force before he went to college and became a test pilot astronaut. “A lot of them … graduated from college, did their profession and then became an astronaut.”

In a short speech last Thursday, Scobee told students they also can be successful.

“You are our future doctors, lawyers, astronauts,” he said. “You might be the one that cures cancer forever. Just remember whatever you dream, you can accomplish; it takes hard work.”

That also could describe the effort that staff and students at the school have invested into the hallway museum throughout the years. Two years ago, third-grade students colored a collage of Scobee.

“It’s really a remarkable collection, and the mural … it doesn’t feel like that history museum that was set in time,” Auburn School District Superintendent Alan Spicciati said. “It’s evolving and it’s alive. It’s a great connection of history and education in the future.

“Commander Scobee probably was the most prominent graduate of our school district and has obviously inspired many generations now.”

‘Eyes on the Stars’

Glenn Jenkins, a fourth-grade teacher at Dick Scobee, said his students have viewed footage of the Challenger disaster along with a short Internet cartoon of fellow astronaut Ronald McNair, which shows him as a 9-year-old visiting a library in segregated rural South Carolina. The video, titled “Eyes on the Stars,” narrated by McNair’s brother, Carl, details his interest in “Star Trek,” which helped fuel his desire to become an astronaut.

Based on that, Jenkins said, all of his students agreed that McNair still would board Challenger even if he knew he would die.

“They were able to see that it’s more about perseverance and being diligent and persistent, even though something typically would normally happen bad that you would continue on,” he said.

With those attributes in mind, Jenkins helped mentor four of his students to serve as tour guides through the museum.

“It takes a lot of courage to stand up and talk with adults,” Jenkins said. “I’m really proud of them.”

Lilian Siegel who was among the tour guides, said she has learned from studying Scobee and his colleagues.

“It takes a lot of courage for an astronaut to go up into space because they usually know that they might not come back,” Siegel said.

Scobee, who estimates he has only missed two assemblies honoring his brother over the years, said he appreciates the “incredible amount of work” that is invested into the event, which includes an afternoon version.

“This school is absolutely wonderful,” he said. “It means a lot to the family because we also consider this school, the teachers, and the principal as extended family. They’re always welcome, and they always welcome us.

“It’s all uplifting. There’s no downside other than he’s not sitting next to me.”

PHOTO BELOW:

Jim Scobee and his wife, Marty, appear at Dick Scobee Elementary for the 30th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger’s disaster. Lost in the explosion was Jim’s brother, the commander, Dick, whose photograph and uniform were on display at the open house. RACHEL CIAMPI, Auburn Reporter