Most of us looked tired this morning as we gathered at Duke Energy Center in the Queen City. From the faces around me, I could tell that Thanksgiving breaks weren’t as rejuvenating as we’d hoped, and there’s too much to do in the short weeks before the holidays. The weariness fell away, though, at the first session of the morning.

In a huge ballroom crowned with gold fabric waves, Homer Hickam spoke to the hearts of those of us in the crowd. He talked about the genesis of his best-selling book “Rocket Boys”, and about his successes and challenges growing up in Coalwood, West Virginia. But most of all, his clear reverence for the positive influence of a supportive mother and of
an exceptional science teacher left us in collective awe. It was a wonderful way to jump-start our enthusiasm.