
Col. Thomas Akers, Math’73, MS Math’75, has logged more than 800 hours of space flight and 29 hours of space-walking experience. He was selected for NASA’s astronaut program after joining the Air Force and was a mission specialist on four space flights – including on the Discovery, Endeavour and Atlantis. Following his career in the Air Force, Akers returned to his alma mater and taught math at S&T for 11 years before retiring in 2010.
Akers earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, both in mathematics, from S&T in 1973 and 1975, respectively.
Share This Story
Spark a Memory?
Share your story! Fill out the form below to share your fondest memory or anecdote of S&T. If you'd prefer not typing, you can also share by phone at 833-646-3715 (833-Miner150).
Alumni leading the telecommunications industry
Roy Wilkens, EE’66, and Mario A. Padilla, MetE’60, worked for years to challenge and change the status of the telecommunications…
Jenna (Freese) and Aaron Wundrack
Jenna (Freese) and Aaron Wundrack met in the mining engineering department in 2013, where they were both pursuing bachelor’s degrees…
Rebuilding a flooded town
At its happening, the Flood of ‘93 was one of the worst crises to have ever impacted the St. Louis…
Jordan (Lynn) and Derek Voges
Jordan Lynn and Derek Voges met at a Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity party at the end of August in 2015….
Quality U.
At the height of the total quality management (TQM) movement, organizations across the nation sought to win the Malcolm Baldrige…
Jennifer (Hoffman) and Terrence Sison
Jennifer (Hoffman) and Terrence Sison attended the same high school but didn’t know each other until they met at S&T…