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[ Music ]

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>> Being an educator
today is not easy.

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We, here at Heights Elementary
School are not here simply

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to educate our students
in the academic realm.

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It's so important
for our students

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to be lifelong learners, and
we have to think about ways

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that we motivate them to do so.

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>> There are so many
distractions

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that we have to compete with.

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>> iPads.

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>> Xbox.

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>> Video games.

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>> Internet.

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>> Far too many channels
of cable television.

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>> What we need is something

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that kids will be
highly motivated about.

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Something to keep
them physically fit,

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as well as making
nutritionally-sound choices.

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[ Music ]

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>> What we needed was a new
tool to help these kids think

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about diet and exercise in order

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to make the healthy
choices they need to.

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>> I knew what that tool was.

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It was something that
inspired me as a kid

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and continues to
inspire me today.

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The space program.

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>> The importance of an
astronaut's physical exercise

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and proper diet cannot
be understated.

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Not just for the fitness of the
astronaut, but also to ensure

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that they stay mentally focused
and productive during their stay

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on the International
Space Station,

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and for future missions,
whether it be

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to asteroids, the moon, or Mars.

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>> In response to the rising
childhood obesity rate,

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NASA has developed a
series of activities based

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on astronaut training
and we call that:

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Train Like An Astronaut.

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>> Examples of the Train Like
An Astronaut activities include

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things that we do exactly as
we do on the ISS: cycling,

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resistance training,
and cardiovascular.

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And then onto dexterity,
putting puzzles together,

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making healthy food choices,
and working as a team.

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All activities as they
truly do on the ISS.

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>> Train Like An Astronaut
activities are flexible enough

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to be used in conjunction with
other programs like NFL Play 60.

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What makes this program
unique is

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that we're using the human
challenges of spaceflight

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to inspire, as well as
motivate our children,

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to make healthy choices
throughout their life.

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>>We're currently
in 24 countries

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with over 24,000 participants,
and growing every year.

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>> This has expanded to such
an incredible opportunity

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for both myself and for
educators around the world,

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to make such an impact
on the lives of children,

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both for fitness as
well as nutrition.

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>> It was excitement for the
whole thing, that the students,

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they weren't just doing
exercises anymore,

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they were training
like an astronaut!

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>> The true success of the
program is the educators.

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An example of a teacher
that has worked

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and motivated his children
is an outstanding educator

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by the name of Timothy Vigorito.

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This gentleman excited them
and inspired them in ways

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that we never could do it.

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And with that, he's helping us
grow the 21st century leadership

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that we so desperately need.

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>> Mr. Vigorito is extremely
passionate about the Train

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Like An Astronaut program.

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>> I think he himself would
like to be an astronaut.

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>> He comes to life when
he's teaching the kids

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and talking about the program.

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The kids feel that enthusiasm.

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>> We're just so
fortunate to have him.

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Oh, it's truly the case.

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[ Music ]

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>> They say your astronaut
training doesn't begin

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when NASA hires you.

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It begins when you're young,
by learning about space

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and the world around us, and by
making healthy choices in life.

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Today, I'd like to recognize an
outstanding physical education

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teacher, Tim Vigorito, for
being a champion for the Train

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Like An Astronaut program

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and influencing thousands
of students to date.

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It is educators like you
that truly make a difference

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in this world, and who will
inspire the next generation

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to propel humankind on future
missions to Mars and beyond.

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>> This is too much.

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For me, it's become
a way of life.

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And I'm just so thankful
to everyone

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for what it's done for me.

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I just want to share
that with my students.

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Maybe it'll inspire them
to reach a little deeper,

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to go a little further,
maybe to try a little harder,