History of the Challenger Learning Center of Kansas

In 1996, the South Central Kansas Educational Services Center (www.sckesc.org) in Clearwater, Kansas inquired to the Challenger Center for Space Science Education about contracting the placement of a Challenger Learning Center in their service area. Discussion began immediately, and a key objective was to identify the eventual site of the Center. After an extensive competition between several communities, the city of Wellington was chosen to host the Challenger Learning Center of Kansas on March 8, 1997.

From 1997 to 1999, the South Central Kansas Educational Services Center provided operational support and leadership of the project. In 1999, leadership changes within the South Central Kansas Educational Services Center brought a change in direction for the Challenger Learning Center of Kansas. The Board of the Challenger Learning Center of Kansas took control of the project and moved the operation to Wellington in advance of opening. Late in 1999, the Board of the Challenger Learning Center of Kansas secured and purchased a complete simulation package from the Challenger Center for Space Science Education and purchased the Center’s future home Washington Avenue in Wellington.

From 1999 to 2001, the project stalled as fundraising efforts driven by contracted employees failed to generate sufficient capital to renovate the facility. Congressman Todd Tiahrt came to the rescue and agreed to champion the Challenger Learning Center of Kansas on Capitol Hill. He secured an appropriation of $500,000 to fund the Challenger Learning Center of Kansas. When the appropriation was signed into effect in 2002, it became a grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (www.nasa.gov). As it currently stands, the grant funds the operating needs of the Challenger Learning Center of Kansas, but cannot be used for the overall capital campaign.

In 2003, Kevin Ikenberry joined the Challenger Learning Center of Kansas as the Executive Director. Kevin came to Kansas from the Challenger Learning Center of Arizona in Phoenix where he served as the Director of Education, Lead Flight Director, and Deputy Director of the Center from 2001 to 2003. Prior to his Challenger experience, Kevin managed the internationally renowned U.S. Space Camp® program in Huntsville, Alabama, where he worked from 1996 to 2001.
In 2008 Kevin left Challeger for active duty with the army.

In June of 2004, Kelli Barton joined the Challenger Learning Center of Kansas as the Director of Development. With a background in sales and marketing, Kelli will oversee the fundraising efforts, both initial and ongoing, for the Challenger Learning Center of Kansas.

Kay Tibbs joined the Challenger team in June of 2005 as Director of Education/Lead Flight Director. Kay comes to the Challenger Learning Center of Kansas with 20 years of teaching experience. As Director of Education, Kay is in charge of educational programming, including generation of program and curriculum materials, educational outreach, professional development and generating public awareness of CLCKS programming. In May of 2008 Kay left CLCKS.