Mayor proclaims Dec. 2 “Sheila Schencke Day”

  • Published
  • By Mrs. Betty Stephens
  • 917th Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale Air Force Base, La. --  Local leaders honored STARBASE Louisiana Director Sheila Schencke Dec. 2, during the program’s student graduation at Kerr Elementary in Bossier City. 

Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker proclaimed the day, “Sheila Schencke Day,” to recognize her “great impact on many of our children” with the STARBASE program over the past seven years at Barksdale AFB. 

Under her directorship, the STARBASE staff has served over 4,300 area at-risk fifth-grade students in a highly interactive aerospace science/math/technology program and has trained hundreds of veteran and pre-service teachers in innovative and effective teaching practices. 

“Sheila is vital to our STARBASE program,” said Mrs. Kathy Brandon, incoming director. “She has strived to involve community, civic and military leaders in the improvement of educational opportunities and programs in our area.” 

Students participating in the program have given back through numerous volunteer projects, helping them develop a strong sense of community and improve their self-esteem, Mrs. Brandon said. 

Christian Mitchell, a student at Kerr said her five weeks at STARBASE was a great experience. Through the use of fatal vision goggles, Christian said she realized “how important it is to stay drug free; that it is too scary to be unable to see clearly.” 

“Everywhere I go now, I look for a STARBASE program first. It is a program that touches all fifth-graders who have the privilege of going through it,” said Col. Cathy Chilton, assistant mobilization director, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, and wife of Lt. Gen. Kevin Chilton, 8th Air Force commander. 

Colonel Chilton encouraged the graduates and reminded them “there are no limits anymore, not even for females, who have a good education; just set goals, and strive to achieve them,” she said. 

Mrs. Schencke departs STARBASE and Louisiana mid-December and moves to Washington state to be closer to family. 

Her greatest hope is for “STARBASE to continue to keep up with higher technology and impact fifth-grade students with exercises and experiences that will help them achieve high goals in fields of math and science.”