PARKLAND, Fla. – A Parkland teacher was recognized Friday after she traveled to Greenland to participate in a mission for NASA.
Adeena Teres was beaming as she accepted an award from Broward County Commissioner Michael Udine for extraordinary passion and dedication to science.
"I couldn't believe it when they told me about this. I was shocked and just honored that this is happening," Teres said.
Udine read the proclamation Friday in front of the biology teacher's students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
The county is declaring June 2, 2017, as Adeena Teres Day.
"I'm so excited to give a proclamation to a teacher who really stepped out of her comfort zone to bring great ideas and great lesson plans to her students," Udine said.
Teres returned last month to South Florida from a three-week trip to Greenland that was part of the Polar Trek program.
She and NASA scientists spent hours flying over the land, collecting data on the thickness and depth of polar ice.
"The flights were amazing. I got to see things that nobody else saw," Teres said.
Teres' students were blown away by their teacher’s passion for science.
"It does inspire me a little bit, because it makes me want to get out and see that stuff; also, to see the cool pictures that Ms. Teres brought back for us," ninth grader Josh Rosenthal said.
"With everything that's going on right now about climate change, global warming, science issues in the news, these kids get to really learn from somebody who sees it firsthand," Udine said.