Groundbreaking Held for Challenger Learning Center of Northeast Alabama

Several hundred people attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Challenger Learning Center of Northeast Alabama in Rainbow City on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. Among the notable dignitaries in attendance were Governor Kay Ivey and Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, widow of Challenger Shuttle Commander Richard "Dick" Scobee. The Challenger Learning Center will serve middle-school students from a 12-county region and provide STEM education using space-themed missions and hands-on learning activities. The center opening is set for 2026.