HISTORY

Starbase began in 1989. Its founders were Barbara Koscak, a Michigan elementary teacher, Brigadier General David Arendts (Ret.), Commander of the 127th Fighter Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, and Lieutenant Colonel Rico Racosky, an F-16 pilot and creator of "Dreams + Action = Reality."

Their dream was to create a program which responds to the needs of today's youth through a curricula of goal setting skills and stimulating hands-on math and science activities, coupled with substance abuse prevention instruction.

The first program was funded with a grant from the Kellogg Foundation, establishing a pilot program at Selfridge. After one year of classes, Senator Levin of Michigan, responding to a letter of support from the commander of the Air National Guard, Lieutenant General John Conway, sought the additional support of Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia.

FEDERAL FUNDING SIGNED INTO LAW

In the summer of 1992, the Senators presented the Starbase program to Congress for funding under the Department of Defense budget. President Bush signed the bill into law that October, and additional funding has been consistently made available from 1993 to the present.

In the spring of 2002, the Govenor of Nebraska, Mike Johanns, signed a cooperative agreement between the National Guard Bureau and the State of Nebraska to establish a Starbase program for the state. The first Starbase Academy for Nebraska is located in Lincoln. Classes began in the fall of 2002.

NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF SUPPORT

There are currently 53 STARBASE Academies in 32 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. In 2002 Nebraska became the 26th state to start an Academy.

The STARBASE Directors regularly network to continually improve the program. This is accomplished with guidance and assistance from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the National Guard Bureau and "Mantech," (a Department of Defense contractor which provides administrative assistance to the individual programs). A professional and efficient support network is in place to ensure compliance and success for every Academy in the program.