Beth Kitchener
On Monday, August 21, the U.S. will witness a natural wonder 38-years in the making – a total solar eclipse. NASA calls the experience, when the moon completely covers the sun, “one of nature’s most awe-inspiring sights” and it will stretch from Salem, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina.
The scientific spectacle is equaled in earth-bound enthusiasm as attested by the number of people traveling, hosting parties and making plans to be with family and friends. Mastercard is also experiencing ‘eclipse frenzy’ and reaching out to schools and students near our O’Fallon Operations and
Technology Center, located west of St. Louis and well-within the 2,945 mile ‘path of totality.’
Local schools and students in the area will benefit from:
A donation of 50,000 pairs of eclipse viewing glasses to the St. Louis Eclipse Task Force for distribution to schools in need, enabling students to safely view the eclipse.
A partnership with the Jennings School District in St. Louis to host a viewing party for 600 students at Northview Elementary School. The students will be filmed pre-eclipse, to get their thoughts on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Livestreaming the eclipse, using a split screen interface, so viewers can enjoy the eclipse on one side of their screen, while experiencing the reactions and emotions of some of the elementary school children at the same time.
An annual membership to the St. Louis Science Center, courtesy of Mastercard, for each Northview’s 600 students, encouraging their interest in learning more about space, science, technology, engineering.
