Minot community officially welcomes STARBASE in N.D. Published Nov. 5, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Stratton Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- An open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Department of Defense-funded education program STARBASE was held at North Plains Elementary School here Nov. 4. Members of North Dakota's federal, state and local government, as well as commanders on base, attended the ceremony which welcomed the only STARBASE program in the state and one of 60 in the nation. "STARBASE has been a real success story for the Team Minot community," said Col. Joel Westa, 5th Bomb Wing commander. "It allows us to contribute back to the community." And give back to the community it has, said Dr. Wayne Sanstead, N.D. Department of Public Instruction state superintendent. "This program is vital to our students and teachers here," he said. "It exponentially increases their scholastic knowledge in the areas of math, science and engineering." Without the DoD, local school districts and the Mid-Dakota Education Cooperative working together, the program would not be the success story it has become. "This is a great example of school districts working together to bring this great learning program to North Dakota," said N.D. Governor John Hoeven to the elementary-school students in attendance - many of them from Roosevelt Elementary in Minot, N.D., the current STARBASE class here. In its inaugural year in North Dakota, STARBASE will reach more than 650 students from nine school districts that form the MDEC Regional Education Association. As N.D. Senator Byron Dorgan said, N.D. students can be just about anything they want to be. "Education is the key to this country's future," the senator added. "We need to provide every opportunity possible for our children." Overall, the program brings fifth-graders here once a month for five days of science, technology, engineering and math - including launching rockets. "We are determined you'll have the skills you need to do whatever you want in life," said N.D. Congressman Earl Pomeroy. Following the opening ceremony, a large group gathered for the ribbon-cutting in the hallway around the STARBASE classrooms, which according to Matthew Balas, director of STARBASE in North Dakota, were designed to harness the power of the mind through hands-on, minds-on learning and development. "Dreams plus action equal reality," said Mr. Balas. "It is truly amazing to see how Team Minot, from the base to the surrounding communities, has really embraced the positive aspects of the program." As cheers and applause rang through the hallway, the official party, led by Governor Hoeven, sliced through the ribbon and signaled the official welcome of STARBASE in North Dakota. The open house ended with Roosevelt students launching off a rocket they had prepared as part of the STARBASE program. "If we can grab two or three students, this will be a huge success for the future of our country and the future of North Dakota," Colonel Westa said. For more information about STARBASE, log on to: http://www.starbasedod.com or call 727-3320.