The recipients of the 2002 Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award are Thomas F. Hunt and Frank E. Waller. Mr. Hunt is the Director of Anywhere, Anytime Learning and a high school Latin Instructor at Wardlaw-Hartridge School in Edison, New Jersey. Mr. Waller is the Director of Management Information Systems, Middle and Secondary Education for the Jackson County School District in Marianna, Florida. Both winners were presented the award by Apollo 13 Astronaut Fred Haise in San Antonio at the National Educational Computing Conference on June 19, 2002.

The Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award rewards excellence in the development and delivery of technology programs and is named after an American hero. Alan Shepard was one of the nation's original seven Mercury astronauts, the first American to fly in space, and one of only 12 humans who walked on the Moon.

Working in a technologically rich school, Thomas F. Hunt created and oversees Project Agora – a program that connects learning done at each grade level with general themes – and emphasizes technology use to accomplish the tasks identified by each Agora Day project. Project Agora uses wireless laptops, Smart Boards, and other technology to create learning problems for students, requiring that they research solutions in small groups and submit their findings and recommendations to their peers.

Thomas also conducts training for school staff on new technologies including everything from how to use laptops through developing and executing Web Quests.

Within a two year period, Mr. Hunt enabled Wardlaw-Hartridge to be showcased in the School Tech Expo Showcase of Exemplary Schools and is invited to discuss the change process and the Agora program both in New Jersey and nationally.

Thomas Hunt has motivated an entire school to not only use technology, but to implement technology into the curriculum and create a better learning environment. He is an innovator and technology advocate who is also a full-time Latin instructor.

Frank E. Waller created a regional technology training center (Teacher Training Institute of the South – TETRIS) which has over 1,500 software titles for teachers to preview before purchasing.  TETRIS provides over 120 workshops annually and last year serviced 1,200 teachers from seventeen counties.

Frank Waller has positively influenced an entire district of almost 7,000 students with his management of hardware, software, computer networking, system support, curriculum integration, and teacher training. Mr. Waller has helped create new opportunities for students in an isolated, rural area through his support and implementation of technology.

The Astronauts Memorial Foundation salutes the efforts of Mr. Hunt and Mr. Waller, and is proud to recognize their achievements.