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).
From Miners to olympians
Two alumni have worked their way into the Olympics through hard work and determination. Tyrone Smith and Shawn Wallace both…
EV pioneer
As the auto industry begins to fully embrace the notion of electric vehicles, it has EV pioneers like Jon Bereisa…
John and Kristie (Capps) Gibson
After a basketball game in February 1973, John Gibson and a friend went to a party at TJ Hall where…
Going nuclear
Missouri S&T is home to the state’s first nuclear reactor. Operational since 1961 and one of only three nuclear reactors…
Arden Hawley and Alex Richter
Arden Hawley met Alex Richter in August 2015 after her roommate joined KMNR, where he was a DJ. “She introduced…
Football, a history
The first game in Miner football history was played on Nov. 20, 1893, and the first Miner touchdown wasn’t scored…