Aviator offers valuable advice to Southeastern students

Press Release Date: 10-15-2010

DURANT, Okla. – Nationally renowned aviator Wally Funk spoke to a crowd of more than 50 students, faculty and staff members at Southeastern Oklahoma State University Thursday afternoon. She easily captivated the audience as she described her fascinating life in aviation.

Funk was only 21 years old when she became one of the "Mercury 13," the 13 women who endured the grueling astronaut training program hoping to be selected as one of the nation's first astronauts. Despite passing all of the tests, none of the 13 women were selected. Today she is preparing for a ride into space in the Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo.

She currently has more than 18,000 hours of flying time logged and was the first woman to successfully complete the FAA General Aviation Operations Inspector Academy course in 1971.

Funk told the students to take advantage of being at a great university like Southeastern and said she had sent quite a few of her flight students here.

"You must have utter determination," Funk said, "and let nothing stop you. I knew at age 20 exactly where I was going. You have to make doors open for yourself."

After a short video of her astronaut training in Russia, Funk passed along several hard-won bits of advice to students planning to follow her into the exciting field of aviation.

"Knowledge is power," Funk said. "To become smart, associate with smart people. All of you should 'Go for the Gold.' Learn as much as you can, follow your dream... but always have an alternative plan. Always stay focused and meet your challenges as they arise."