Rene Kimura is Recipient of the WIA 2011 Aerospace Educator Award

Women in Aerospace (WIA) has honored Rene Kimura, Hawai‘i Space Grant Education Specialist, with the 2011 Aerospace Educator Award. Among her many accomplishments, Rene is co-director of the Future Flight Hawaii program, now in its 22nd year, and the SpaceFEST outreach programs, and has been instrumental in building robotics educations programs statewide. Nominated by Astronaut Morgan and NASA administrator Alan Ladwig, the WIA announcement cites Rene’s excellent leadership and sustained dedication to aerospace education and her tenacious advocacy for girls and young women in aerospace. WIA will be honoring Rene and the six other award winners at the 26th annual awards dinner and reception on November 1, 2011 in Arlington, Virginia. Women in Aerospace (WIA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding women’s opportunities for leadership and to increasing their visibility within the aerospace community. See the Hawai‘i Tribune-Herald article. Congratulations!

From the left: Rene Kimura holding her WIA 2011 Aerospace Educator Award plaque; center and right: Rene Kimura standing with Art Kimura and Astronaut Barbara Morgan during island visits in 1992 and 2008. (Click photo to read WIA press release.)