NJ Elementary School To Be Renamed After Astronaut Scott Kelly, Twin Brother
WEST ORANGE, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Scott Kelly, the astronaut who spent a U.S.-record 520 days in space, will have his name on a New Jersey elementary school -- and so will his twin brother, Mark.
Officials in West Orange have decided to rename Pleasantdale Elementary School after the famous alumni.
PHOTOS: Scott Kelly Returns To Earth
Mark and Scott Kelly grew up in the New York City suburb and went through the public school system before becoming Navy pilots and NASA astronauts.
"They've come back to the district many times to talk to the kids, to motivate the kids," school superintendent Jeffrey Rutzky told WCBS 880's Kelly Waldron. "Kids are just fascinated and they're motivated and they're inspired by knowing his and his brother's accomplishments."
Scott Kelly is retiring after recently returning from a 340-day stay aboard the International Space Station.
Mark Kelly, who's married to former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, retired in 2011 after making four trips to space.
Pleasantdale teachers and students will present five names to the Board of Education.
"It truly is an honor to have individuals who have been part of the district and now to be able to highlight their accomplishments and rename a school after them," Rutzky said. "It really became something that seemed logical in the sense that they're so involved and the accomplishments that they have throughout their careers is second to none."
The name will be revealed during a ceremony on May 19.
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