The Space Shuttle Endeavour was rescheduled to lift off last Monday on it's final mission to space. Aboard this historical space flight will be 16 science projects selected from across the United States of America. One of the projects selected to make history-Apples in Space-was performed by three Crystal Lake Middle School students (Devin Blem, Jonathon Jarboe and Trinidadian-born student, Yanik Berment.) This is not only US history, but Trinidad and Tobago history in the making. The shuttle was originally set to launch last Saturday, but was scrubbed. The boys and their families, and school officials travelled to Cape Canaveral for the launch. They were treated like VIP's and were allowed to view the launch from KARS Park, an area that is usually only available to Kennedy Space Center family members. Space shuttle Endeavour's final launch has been delayed until at least the end of the week because technicians need to replace a switch box in the engine compartment, Nasa said Sunday. However, whenever Endeavour launches, the projects will still be going into space making history.
About Yanik
Yanik is 14-years-old and is in his last year of middle school in the US (Form 1). He is a straight A, Honor Roll student who lives in the suburb of Coconut Creek, Florida, one of the cities of the Fort Lauderdale Metro area. He is the son of Rhonda Berment, a graduate of Holy Name Convent and UWI School of Continuing Studies. He is the grandson of much sort after musician Patrick "Bird" Spicer and former Julia Edward Dance Troupe dancer Eileen Berment. Yanik has spent most of his life in the USA, and during his school years, has maintained his straight A average. While in elementary school, he was honoured by the Mayor of Margate, Florida for his outstanding performance during his time at Liberty Elementary.
He has had to overcome some obstacles in his young life, going through a rough divorce with his sister and mother, and also overcoming the negative effects that followed. Yanik has a calm demeanour and great sense of humour, and takes life in stride. He and his family have risen out of the ashes and with continued encouragement from his mother, sister, little brother and stepfather, and all the many family members that have encouraged and stood by him, he knows that anything and everything is possible. President Barack Obama is expected to fly into Cape Canaveral to view the launch with Yanik's family. The three Crystal Lake Middle School students were interviewed for local Florida TV stations: Channel 6, 7 and Channel 10.