Zaniac Celebrates Grand Opening with NASA Astronaut
“You can achieve what you believe.” – NASA Astronaut, Dr. John Herrington
We are excited to announce that NASA astronaut Dr. John B. Herrington will help us kickoff our Grand Opening Celebration of Zaniac Learning Asheville, a national STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) after-school enrichment center for kids K-8th grade, on Tuesday, April 19 in Biltmore Park Town Square from 4-7 p.m. Zaniac Learning is located at One Town Square Boulevard, Suite 120, Asheville, NC 28803 behind the Beverly-Hanks office.
Our Grand Opening celebration is free and open to the public. Bring your kids and come out to enjoy the fun event we have planned. Meet NASA astronaut Dr. Herrington for some space talk and photos. Professional local photographer Linnae Harris will be taking complimentary photos of Dr. Herrington with kids and families who are interested.
Astronaut Dr. Herrington, a member of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma, flew to the International Space Station in 2002 aboard the shuttle Endeavor. The historic mission included three space walks, the delivery of the Expedition-Six crew, the delivery, installation and activation of the P1 Truss, and the transfer of cargo from Shuttle to the Station. He also rode a bicycle from Cape Flattery, Wash., to Cape Canaveral, Fla. to call attention to importance of education in STEM-related fields.
Zaniac’s Grand Opening also will feature lots of games and activities for the kids including a scavenger hunt, hands-on STEM activities, Basketball Shoot Out, Moon Shot Toss, and tours of the Zaniac campus. Enjoy light refreshments and cake!
Founder and Chairman Paul Zane Pilzer , a college professor, social entrepreneur and best-selling author, will also help kickoff the event and the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Reed Bilbray, who works with Zaniac founder Paul Zane Pilzer, decided to start Zaniac Asheville—along with his wife—to enrich children’s lives, offer valuable employment opportunities, and serve as a positive role model for their twin toddler girls as they grow up. In fact, many times during this past month, their girls, 3, have asked, “Daddy, are you going to Zaniac today?”
Our Courses
Zaniac Learning offers programs and camps where learning feels like play. Kids are engaged in creative, conceptual problem solving that builds confidence and helps them succeed in school by nurturing their sense of curiosity and love of learning. Popular Zaniac programs include Robotics: LEGO® , Game-Based Learning: Minecraft™, 3D Printing, App Creation, Fashion Design and Computer Programming. The colorful campus features glass-walled classrooms with white boards and large multimedia screens, as well as a variety of tools to engage students in real-world applications of STEM subjects.
How Kids Benefit
- Learn critical-thinking skills in a fun environment
- Ignite their imagination
- Enjoy learning and improve their attitude about school
- Spark curiosity and enthusiasm
- Encourage a love for science, technology, engineering and math
- Learn at your own pace
- Small class sizes: 5 to 1 student to instructor ratio
- 1-on-1 homework help and encouragement
“Everything is a team effort.” – NASA Astronaut, Dr. John Herrington
Bilbray co-owns the Asheville location with a team of local Asheville area business partners including his wife Sandra Bilbray, Lynne Porter, Nancy Duggan, Colin Roberston, Dana Harris, Patricia Page and former Henderson County School Superintendent Dr. Stephen Page. Meet the entire team.
Lynne Porter is also Zaniac’s Campus Director. She has extensive experience in education, banking and corporate finance, and previously lived in Barcelona, Spain, where she started an English language academy to teach English as a second language (ESL). Experiencing several different educational systems in different countries, Lynne saw the need for quality instruction for children and an encouraging support system to break down stigmas.
Lynne wants to empower young children to strengthen their self-esteem through a world of discovery, giving kids the confidence to discover their passion and explore their future.
The Asheville campus marks the first Zaniac location in North Carolina and the tenth location for the company. The franchise currently has campuses in Utah, Florida, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, California and Texas. The fast-growing brand plans to reach 50 campuses total by 2017.
Come On Out to Our Grand Opening!
If you are looking for educational enrichment for your K-8th grade child, or you just want to meet a NASA Astronaut (and who doesn’t), c’mon out and join the fun Tuesday April 19th from 4–7 p.m.
Professional photographer Jill Schwarzkopf from Realities Photography will be photographing the event.
Exclusive Grand Opening Course Discounts
For a 10 percent discount off our after-school programs and summer camps, sign your kids up using discount code: GrandOpening
Our After-School Programs begin April 25th and Summer Camps begin June 13th. Half and full-day camps are available. Our engaging programs will encourage your child’s love for math and technology. REGISTER NOW!
For more information about Zaniac or its course schedule, visit www.zaniaclearning.com/asheville email asheville@zaniaclearning.com or call Campus Director, Lynne Porter at 828-575-0355.
“Believe in the people who believe in you.” – Dr. John Herrington
