Christina Koch holds home state dear; hopes to inspire future explorers

RALEIGH, N.C. — Before she set a record in space and before she even became an astronaut, Christina Koch was raised in North Carolina.

She went through public education like many in the Triangle.

While visiting our state to highlight education at several schools, she and Governor Roy Cooper sat down with anchor WRAL News at the executive mansion.

They talked about why investing in student education is critical and why Koch always keeps North Carolina in her heart.

“It’s an honor to be here,” said Koch. “I love coming back home to North Carolina.”

“I like to pay homage to the heroes I had here and hopefully inspire the next generation of explorers,” she said.

But before she was called to the NASA Astronaut Corps, she was a kid in Jacksonville, North Carolina, who went on to attend North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham.

“The things I was able to learn there was, I really can compete with people from the fancy places like Raleigh and Charlotte, and I really can gain the skills I need to have to be competitive in the world,” Koch said.

She eventually went to NC State with dual bachelor of science degrees in electrical engineering and physics. Then came a master’s degree in electrical engineering.

That’s what Gov. Roy Cooper said he wants the younger generation to understand. He said Koch is the very embodiment of what the North Carolina public education system can produce.

“Education is the key to our success,” Cooper said. “In fact, our future goes to school in public schools every day. The next Christina Koch could come any year now.”

It’s why he’s dubbed 2024 the year of the public schools.

“I hope legislators listen to their own constituents, because their constituents will listen to them,” Cooper said. “Public school teachers are critical to the future of our children and our economy.”

As for Koch, she speaks to young kids about what she does, because she knows what it’s like to look up at the stars and wonder what’s out here.

And most likely, there’s a kid like she was, doing the same.

The next step after that wondering is education.

“Whether your passion is in STEM, or political leadership or public service, being willing to be brave and strike out to do the things you believe in is one of the most important and necessary things for us and the world we live in,” Koch said.