Space Vehicles Directorate member earns presidential recognition Published Feb. 2, 2006 By Michael P. Kleiman AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate Public Affairs KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AMFCNS) -- When President Bush arrives in Albuquerque Feb. 2, one of his first official duties in the Duke City will be to present the President's Volunteer Service Award to a Space Vehicles Directorate member. The recipient is Mike Martin, a contract employee with Applied Technology Associates, Albuquerque, working as a cryogenic technician in the directorate's Spacecraft Technology Division. Mr. Martin earned the presidential recognition for his volunteerism at the STARBASE(r) La Luz Academy, a Department of Defense education outreach program, sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles and Directed Energy Directorates, located at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. The program encourages youth in elementary through secondary grades throughout the state to pursue careers as scientists and engineers. During the past three years, Martin has volunteered hundreds of hours instructing hands-on advanced science classes to elementary students participating in the educational facility's Providing Engineering and Technology Experiences for Students program. Four years prior to that, he served as a STARBASE(r) review mentor for high school participants designing and implementing research projects for the Students Planning and Conducting Engineering Flight program. "I have volunteered with the STARBASE(r) La Luz Academy because I enjoy teaching youth about science, and also to the fact that I love to see their faces light up when presented with information that they thought never existed," said Mr. Martin. "The STARBASE(r) La Luz Academy is something I believe is very important to the community, as we need to focus more on math and the sciences. We really need to push it," Mr. Martin said. In an effort to have all Americans make a difference in their communities through volunteerism, President Bush created USA Freedom Corps, an Office of the White House, in 2002 to strengthen and expand volunteer service. Mr. Martin is one of about 460 selfless servants who have been personally thanked by President Bush for making a difference in other's lives. Created at the President's direction by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, the honor is available to youth ages 14 and under who have achieved 50 or more hours of volunteer service; to individuals 15 and older who have accomplished 100 or more hours; and to families or groups who have completed 200 or more hours. For more information on the award, please visit www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.