One of the people who helped build the Artemis program is from Boardman. And he literally help build it.
Friday, NASA structural engineer Nick Mastramico spoke via zoom with fifth graders from Boardman Center Intermediate.

"You see people walking and living on the moon, that might be 20 years from now that will be the norm hopefully. that's going to be a big deal and I think will inspire this generation a lot," said Mastramico.

He talked about the Artamis program with nearly 200 fifth graders from Boardman.
He's a 2000 Boardman graduate who is now working at NASA to help us get to the moon.

Talking about that journey with local students helps them realize that for them too, the sky is the limit, or in this case, space is.

"When you hear nick talk about his passion and projection of being a NASA engineer which started in 6th grade shop class and that spark. All of them here are like 'I can do that!' said 5th grade science teacher, Megan Turillo.

Nick showed how they designed the Artemis rocket and how structural engineer made it happen.
Students asked a lot of good questions and learned a lot.

Fifth grader, Dominic DeAngelo said, "I liked the engineering aspect of it because I want to be an engineer when I get older. I like building stuff and drawing."

"I really like learning about the astronauts and about the first girl going to the moon," said 5th grader, Zoey Severt.

This isn't the first time Mastramico has reached out the Boardman schools, he's always interested to give back to inspire others to shoot for the stars.