Colonel Eileen Collins Honored with the Society of Women Engineers' Resnik Challenger Medal.

Business Editors

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 10, 2003

Eileen Collins, Colonel, U. S. Air Force and NASA Astronaut

recognized for her visionary contributions to space exploration at

Society's national conference

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) announced today that Colonel Eileen Collins is the recipient of the 2003 SWE Resnik Challenger Medal in recognition of her extraordinary leadership and flight skills, which have increased our understanding of human space flight and the universe.

After graduating as class leader from the Air Force Test Pilot Training School at Edwards Air Force Base in 1990 Collins was selected for astronaut training by NASA. In 1991, Collins became NASA's first certified female space shuttle pilot and is presently a veteran of three space flights. Two of these flights involved notable firsts for NASA, not only as important milestones for women astronauts, but also as significant advancements for space exploration and the U.S. space program.

Collins was the first woman shuttle pilot and as commander of the orbiter Columbia, NASA's first woman commander paving the way for others to follow. She utilizes her public visibility to encourage youngsters to study physics and math. As a real-life heroine in NASA's space program, she inspires youth around the world, sparking their curiosity and encouraging them to explore.

"Just as Colonel Collins was inspired by Amelia Earhart, thousands of today's young women have been inspired by Colonel Collins," said Alma Martinez Fallon, president of the Society of Women Engineers. "Colonel Collins' influence and encouragement in getting students, especially girls, involved in math and science is vital to addressing our country's essential need for a growing and diverse technical workforce."

Aboard STS-63 (1995) Collins became the first woman pilot of a space shuttle mission. The STS-63 mission did pivotal work in establishing and verifying rendezvous and docking protocols for the Shuttle and Mir space station missions. Collins also piloted mission STS-84 (May 1997) the sixth in the series of Shuttle/Mir dockings, which provided useful experience on long-term living and working in space prior to construction of the International Space Station. On her third space flight, July 22-27, 1999 Collins commanded the orbiter Columbia as NASA's first woman shuttle commander. STS 93's successful deployment of the Chandra X-ray telescope has produced images revealing new discoveries of the universe beyond anyone's expectations.

Collins received an Associate in Science degree in mathematics/science from Corning Community College in 1976; a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics and economics from Syracuse University in 1978; a Master of Science degree in operations research from Stanford University in 1986; and a Master of Arts degree in space systems management from Webster University in 1989.

The SWE Resnik Challenger Medal will be formally presented tonight at the Society of Women Engineers' National Conference Achievement Awards Banquet in Birmingham, Alabama. The National Conference, "Supporting the World Through Engineering," is being held in Birmingham, AL October 9 - 11. The over 3,000 attendees include professionals from every discipline of the engineering profession and a large number of engineering students and educators. The 2004 Conference is scheduled for October 13 - 16, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

About SWE

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE), founded in 1950, is a non-profit educational and service organization. SWE is the driving force that establishes engineering as a highly desirable career aspiration for women. SWE empowers women to succeed and advance in those aspirations and receive the recognition and credit for their life-changing contributions and achievements as engineers and leaders. For more information about the Society please visit www.swe.org or call [phone].