Teachers at a middle school located in West Virginia didn’t want their students to limit themselves to local jobs when faced with future career decisions. They wanted them to investigate a world of science within their state that they might not be aware of. To achieve this goal, they submitted and received a $10,000, 2005 Toyota Tapestry Grant in the Literacy and Science category. A small town hero from West Virginia provided the inspiration for the interdisciplinary project, Rocket Boys and Girls. All described activities were paid for with the grant.