America's Premier Vocabulary Competition To Feature Math, Science and
Technology Content
PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y., June 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA and The
Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge announced a partnership to
improve science literacy in America by integrating science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM) vocabulary into the nation's premier vocabulary
competition: the Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge. This year's
competition took place in Orlando, Florida. A television special based on
the National Word Power Challenge will be broadcast on NBC stations this
summer, hosted by Al Roker of NBC's Today Show.
Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge editors collaborated with
NASA to develop science-themed questions, such as "What is the derivation
of the word astronaut?" The integration of STEM terminology into the
country's leading literacy competition enlivened the program with fresh new
topics and introduced those subject areas to an even greater number of
young learners. More than two million students participated in this year's
Word Power Challenge, which awarded $50,000 in college scholarships.
"NASA continues to look for new initiatives to cultivate future
explorers and innovators," said Assistant Administrator for Education Joyce
Winterton. "Partnering with Reader's Digest is ideal because programs like
the Word Power Challenge present science and math concepts in a friendly,
accessible format for students."
"In today's highly competitive world, students need to be able to
communicate effectively across a wide variety of subjects," said Kathleen
Bordelon, executive director of the Reader's Digest National Word Power
Challenge. "Our partnership with NASA, a national leader in scientific
innovation, extends the Word Power Challenge across the curriculum."
A powerful vocabulary provides students with a foundation for success
while in school and later in the professions of their choice. The
partnership between Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge and NASA
will benefit students by exposing them to exciting mathematical concepts
and scientific terminology. It will also help them develop stronger
language skills useful for decoding instructions, comprehending word
problems, performing research and describing their work which will enhance
their career opportunities as well as their ability to develop and
understand public policy.
Both organizations will provide access to post vocabulary quizzes on
their respective websites that will highlight space exploration and the
history of aeronautics.
The Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge
Based on the popular "Word Power" column in Reader's Digest magazine,
the most widely read magazine in the world, the Reader's Digest National
Word Power Challenge is an educational outreach program of The Reader's
Digest Association, Inc. Over two million students compete in the nation's
premier vocabulary competition.
For more information, please visit http://www.wordpowerchallenge.com.
SOURCE Reader's Digest Association
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Related links:
http://www.rd.com
http://www.wordpowerchallenge.com
CONTACT:
Ellen Morgenstern of Reader's Digest
Association, +1-914-244-7582, ellen_morgenstern@rd.com; or Sonja
Alexander of NASA Headquarters, Washington, +1-202-358-1761,
sonja.r.alexander@nasa.gov
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