Ryan from the Ashley Elementary School of New Baltimore, Michigan drew this image as a condolence message after the loss of the Columbia crew on February 1, 2003.

March 11, 2003

The School Board of the Val Verde Unified School District in California named a new school after the Space Shuttle Columbia. Columbia Elementary School will honor the memory of the Space Shuttle Columbia and the seven astronauts who lost their lives in the space shuttle tragedy during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere on February 1, 2003.

Construction on the Columbia Elementary School, which will be located at Rider Street and Haines Street in Mead Valley, is scheduled to begin in June 2003. Doors will open to students in August the following year.

The Val Verde Unified School District serves nearly 12,000 students in kindergarten through grade 12 at 12 schools located in the Mead Valley, Perris and Moreno Valley areas. District offices are located in Perris at 975 West Morgan Street, Perris, California 92571.

Visit the Val Verde School District website.
Find more on the Columbia page.