The Christa McAuliffe Prize The Christa McAuliffe Prize The Nebraska Christa McAuliffe Prize For Courage and Excellence in Education is an award given annually to recognize a teacher in Nebraska for showing courage in education. Founded in 1987 this award was founded in memorial to Christa McAuliffe, the teacher/astronaut who lost her life in the Challenger space shuttle accident in January, 1986. This fund provides a way to recognize these teachers, and at the same time honor the memory of Ms. McAuliffe's courage. Among the recipients of the Mcauliffe Prize over the past 20 years have been teachers who exemplified courage in many ways,
Christa Merten Christa Merten Christa Merten (née Basche; 14 October 1944, Dobbertin, Germany – 1 July 1986, Marbella, Spain), was a West German athlete and Olympian who competed for West Germany in the 1960s and 70s in the 800, 1500 and 3000 meter runs and in cross country running. On July 31, 1971, she set a world record in Lübeck with Ellen Tittel, Sylvia Schenk, and Hildegard Falck in the 800 meter relay. Merten started the 1500 meter run at the 1972 Summer Olympics and the 800 meter run at the 1971 European Athletics Championships, but failed to reach the finals. She