NASA is partnering with the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and Discovery Place Inc. to celebrate the agency's 50th anniversary by bringing the excitement of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education to Charlotte, N.C.

The 63rd CIAA Tournament runs from Feb. 25 to March 1. The annual event is made up of 11 historically black colleges and universities and showcases athletic competition through six days of men's and women's basketball.

NASA's theme for the week of events, "Destination: Moon and Mars -- Paving the Way for Humans," reflects the agency's goal of inspiring the next generation of explorers and encouraging students to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics as the nation prepares to return humans to the moon and explore the Red Planet.

Hands-on exhibits, moon rocks, and a Martian meteorite will be on display at Discovery Place. NASA-sponsored professional development workshops for teachers and future teachers will be held at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte during the tournament. The workshops will provide information on ways to enhance math and science curricula by taking advantage of NASA educational materials.

Astronaut Charles F. Bolden, Jr., will be present during the tournament and available for interviews on Feb. 29 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. EST. Also attending will be Charles Scales, NASA's associate deputy administrator, and Bernice Alston, the deputy assistant administrator for education programs. Reporters interested in scheduling interviews should contact Sonja Alexander on 202-577-6571 or Emily Sturgill on 757-272-9859.

For more information about the CIAA tournament, visit: