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Apache Junction students watch Bill Nye the Science Guy at Arizona Speaker Series

Ttckets, which start at $149 each, were donated to the school

Posted 1/22/20

What happens when you put 12 Apache Junction eighth-grade junior high school students in a crowded arena to listen to a guy dressed in a bow tie talk about science?

The speaker was Bill Nye the …

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Apache Junction students watch Bill Nye the Science Guy at Arizona Speaker Series

Ttckets, which start at $149 each, were donated to the school

Posted

What happens when you put 12 Apache Junction eighth-grade junior high school students in a crowded arena to listen to a guy dressed in a bow tie talk about science?

The speaker was Bill Nye the Science Guy, the students were from Cactus Canyon Junior High School and the event was part of the Arizona Lecture Series, according to a release.

The students were selected from Diana Kidde’s advanced science class. Wendy McQuilkin, who teaches seventh-grade science and Jason Davis, the CCJH yearbook advisor, also attended the event Jan. 8 at Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St. in Phoenix.

The tickets, which start at $149 each --- not including service fees --- were donated to the school. The shows are sold out and there is a waitlist for those who want to attend future lectures.

"This was such an awesome opportunity,” Mrs. McQuilkin, who was one of three educators who was selected as AJUSD Teacher of the Year in 2019, said in the release. “I was so excited to shake the hand of the man who has helped so many kids learn about science. It was great to see that he is still involved in science, research, and space exploration. My students had great time learning about climate change and space, and were star struck to see Bill Nye, bowtie and all."

The students were equally excited.

"It was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience and I am very happy that I was chosen to go backstage to meet the one and only Bill Nye the Science Guy," Aralyn Brennan said in the release.

"I enjoyed listening to Bill Nye speak about global warming and the Australian fires. It was really exciting to meet Bill Nye. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity," Benjamin Kidde said in the release.

"It was surreal being able to meet the man who helped teach me my elementary school science education and he has helped me not only become aware about climate change, but what climate change actually means and how we can help fight against it," Tiffany Hutcheson said in the release.

The next lecture --- with Donna Brazile, former committee chair of the Democratic National Committee, and Michael Steele, former chair of the Republican National Committee --- will be Jan. 23.

Sheryl Anderson, who teaches government at Apache Junction High School, is scheduled to take students from her classes to the next lecture.

Students from AJHS and CCJH will be attending additional lectures including Gen. John F. Kelly USMC (Ret.) on Feb. 19, Bob Woodward on March 5 and Jay Leno on March 31.

For more information about the Arizona Speaker Series, go to arizonaseries.com.