Smyrna-raised Astronaut to Speak at High School Alma Mater's Graduation

From Smyrna to space and back it’s been quite a ride for NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, who returns to his alma mater, The Lovett School, to give this afternoon’s commencement address.

And what will the Class of 1985 graduate instruct the Class of 2011 today at Peachtree Presbyterian Church?

“My challenge to them will be to go live a life of significance,’’ said Kimbrough. “Do things that really matter in their lives. By doing this, they will accomplish amazing things and can truly change the future of our world.’’

No one can accuse Kimbrough of not giving his all in life. An affable man with a gentle spirit, Kimbrough was a standout in all areas during his high school years at Lovett.

He went on a Presidential Scholarship to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y, where he captained the baseball team as a lefty closer out of the bullpen on his way to earning a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering.

A lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, Kimbrough served as an Apache helicopter pilot in the Gulf War. And then earned a Master of Science degree in operations research from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1998.

Thinking fondly on his days at Lovett, Kimbrough said, “I feel extremely fortunate that I had the opportunity to attend Lovett. Lovett challenged me academically, physically, and spiritually. These challenges made me realize I could accomplish way more than I ever thought. I left Lovett with incredible experiences and talents that I have used ever since.’’

Such as journeying to the final frontier, as Kimbrough was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 2004. For several years he trained astronauts on landing procedures before being selected for a mission himself. As a member of the STS-126 Space Shuttle Endeavour crew, he completed his first space flight in Nov. 2008, logging nearly 16 days in space.

During the six-million mile mission, the STS-126 crew expanded the living quarters of the International Space Station by delivering a new bathroom, kitchenette, two bedrooms, an exercise machine and a water recycling system. Kimbrough performed two spacewalks, totaling 12 hours and 52 minutes.

Six-million miles is quite a long ways from sharing middle school classes with actress Julia Roberts, as the two did some 30 years ago or so. Born in Killeen, Texas into a military family, Kimbrough’s family settled in Smyrna in 1977.

“We came from Germany,’’ he said. “My Dad was in the Army and was reassigned to Ft. McPherson in Atlanta. I attended 5th grade at Fitzhugh Lee Elementary on Atlanta Road and then I went to l, followed by Lovett.’’

For eight years, Kimbrough and his mother, father and brother lived about a half-mile from .

“I quickly became involved with baseball and football at Nickajack, and I also played basketball with the Smyrna rec leagues,’’ he said. “As I got older, I moved into Smyrna Pony League baseball and school football and basketball.’’

Kimbrough attended Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta where he met Robbie Nickels, who would later become his wife. The Kimbroughs have three children and live in Houston where he continues to work for NASA.

Shane and Robbie flew into Atlanta Saturday and spent the evening visiting with a few Lovett classmates. His stories of being an astronaut - from the “indescribable beauty’’ of earth from space to dinners on the International Space Station with Russian cosmonauts to phone chats from space with Robbie as she’s driving around in carpool traffic - were both fascinating and amusing.

After today’s commencement, Kimbrough will head to Florida to assist with Monday’s planned Endeavour shuttle launch from Cape Canaveral. It will be the second-to-last NASA shuttle liftoff, as America will soon depend on the Russia's Buran Space Shuttle to visit and return from the International Space Station.

Kimbrough’s future includes work with the Russian space program and at least one more trip to space, possibly for as long as six months. But first things first and that means addressing today’s Lovett seniors, including valedictorian Ashley Dalton and salutatorian Avery Wiens.

“I am honored to be a part of the Lovett commencement ceremonies,’’ he said. “It is quite humbling to be in front of such a talented group of young men and women.’’

One could say it takes one to know one. After all, we’re talking about a kid born in a small Texas town, who spent many formative years in a metro Atlanta suburb, who went to West Point, and grew to become a man who married the beautiful girl from his church, served as a platoon leader, worked as professor who jumped out of airplanes, and then became an astronaut who performs handy work space.

Kind of sounds like a sounds a movie script, right? But hey, what about that middle school friend who grew up to become an Academy Award winning actress and worldwide celebrity?

“I do remember growing up with Julie Roberts, as she was known to us,’’ Kimbrough said. “We were in the same grade and attended Griffin together. She was on the 8th grade cheer team and my mom coached them. My mom was one of her teachers, as well. She was always very nice and obviously did well for herself.

Um, Lieutenant Colonel Kimbrough, you have, too.