Challenger Learning Center of Northeast Alabama to Break Ground on New STEM Facility

Rainbow City, AL – After two years of meticulous planning and due diligence, the Challenger Learning Center of Northeast Alabama is set to embark on an exciting new chapter with the groundbreaking of a cutting-edge STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) center. The ceremony will take place on September 17, 2024, marking a significant milestone in the development of Alabama’s only Challenger Learning Center.

The Groundbreaking Ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, September 17, at 10:00 a.m., and will be held across from the Mega Sports Complex in Rainbow City. The event celebrates the beginning of construction for a state-of-the-art facility that will serve middle-school students starting in 2026. The center will provide space-themed missions and hands-on STEM learning activities designed to complement classroom instruction.

Tony Smith, Chairman of the Advisory Council, expressed gratitude for the community’s support, stating, “The communities in northeast Alabama have been very supportive of this initiative. We invite everyone to join us as we kick off the build for Alabama’s only Challenger Learning Center.”

The new facility, designed and engineered by Trent Thrasher Construction in collaboration with the Challenger Center in Washington, DC, will feature a range of specialized learning environments. Each Challenger Learning Center simulator includes a Briefing Room, Transport Room, Mission Control, and Space Station. The Rainbow City center will also boast three classrooms capable of accommodating 25-40 students each, providing unique STEM learning experiences.

“This is not a field trip; Challenger Learning Center programming applies STEM concepts and actively engages the students in learning through collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking. It builds self-confidence in the skills needed for 21st Century careers in Alabama and across the globe,” Smith added.

The future Challenger Learning Center in Rainbow City will join a network of over 30 Challenger Learning Centers across 24 states, which have reached more than 6 million students worldwide. These centers offer a variety of hands-on STEM programs, with their core offering being immersive space-themed missions designed to inspire and educate students in a fully engaging environment.

The center will serve students from Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, DeKalb, Etowah, Marshall, Randolph, St. Clair, Talladega, Jefferson counties, and surrounding areas, furthering the reach and impact of STEM education in the region.

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