The skills and knowledge of about 20 Tyler Junior College surveying and mapping students proved valuable in the search for debris from the space shuttle Columbia.

After the craft blew apart over East Texas against a clear blue sky while descending to Earth, the TJC students and their instructors gingerly trudged from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. through dense forest, vines and brush in Nacogdoches County.

They answered a call for volunteers proficient in the global positioning system to assist with the search and recovery mission for materials from Columbia. GPS can be used to pinpoint longitude and latitude coordinates for objects on the ground using radio signals from an array of satellites circling the Earth.

The search was lacking in people who could use the GPS system and also read a compass to tell which direction they were going in the woods. But both were skills the TJC students have.

The students used about a half dozen hand-held, mapping-grade GPS receivers, along with numerous units donated by Tyler surveying and mapping companies. Stanger Surveying Co. not only provided receivers, but also trained the students in use of the equipment.

The TJC students, who had been studying the GPS in their classes, were among the last wave of civilian volunteers enlisted in the recovery of shuttle debris before specially trained U.S. Forest firefighters and other federal workers took over.

Upon arriving at Nacogdoches Exposition Center, the TJC entourage underwent orientation by a Nacogdoches surveyor, Jeff Opperman, who had shut down his business for two weeks to free personnel and equipment to help with the search.

Then the students joined teams of law enforcement officers, ham radio operators, FBI and NASA representatives and other volunteers in a caravan to a small rural church parking lot at Chireno, one of the oldest communities in the state. They unloaded and commenced searching in the woods.

Search teams used maps developed within hours of the disaster by Stephen F. Austin State University's Forest Research Institute after it was determined there was a pattern to where the debris fell to the ground, based on the shuttle's flight line.

Each team formed a line, fingertip to fingertip, and walked through the timber and thick brush to cover a designated grid about one kilometer square.

"We didn't walk 10 steps without someone calling for an evidence bag; we found debris constantly. It was in the trees; it was on the ground. Columbia came to Earth in millions of pieces," said Patti Williams, a TJC surveying and mapping instructor.

"I know the caliber of the kids; I knew that they would be a valuable asset (in the search) and by 10 o'clock, everyone else in the group did, too. There was real respect," Ms. Williams said.

Law enforcement officers had been working with volunteers in tennis shoes and lacking GPS knowledge. But the TJC students not only knew how to obtain longitude and latitude coordinates on the GPS, but showed up in proper attire - work boots, gloves and hunting clothes.

Students flagged each find and a NASA representative came with a bag, marked on it the GPS coordinates furnished by students indicating where the item was found and collected it. TJC students did not touch the debris.

"Those NASA people were fabulous. They were diligent, very professional," Ms. Williams said.

Leann Wheeler, another TJC instructor, said, "It was a unique experience, a way for our students to help a community in need."

In the search and recovery mission, they applied in a different way the education and knowledge they have acquired in the college's surveying and mapping program, Ms. Wheeler said. Normally, surveyors and mappers use their skills to survey land, locate property boundaries, divide land for subdivision and similar projects.

The smallest item the TJC group found was about the size of a postage stamp; the largest piece was about 2-feet by 3-feet, Ms. Wheeler said.

TJC pupil Bob Handy, 20, Skidmore, who wants a career working offshore in surveying and mapping, spotted tiles, a small circuit board, pieces of metal and part of a uniform with a patch attached that was charred on one side.

"We just bowed our heads," Handy said of the team he was with when the patch turned up. It was the only personal item found that day and the find was an emotional moment, Ms. Williams said. Student Joshua Harris, 19, Cisco, who wants to be a licensed surveyor, also found a large piece of tile and a couple small pieces. Later, he expressed pride over being able to "help out."

Austin Munden, 20, of Marshall said assisting with the search was a "once-in-a-lifetime experience." Mapping for the undertaking was different from what he expected and he learned how searchers make similar maps for airplane crash sites.

Munden said finding a button off a thermal blanket made him feel sad.

Steve Garbarino, 38, who is studying for a second career in surveying and mapping after 15 years in computer programming, said the search and recovery was "a very moving experience. I got to meet a lot of very nice people and very dedicated people."

Garbarino said he learned from experienced surveyors who accompanied the TJC students in the search. "It was good to be able to help in a time like that. Usually you sit at home and watch the news and feel bad, but it makes you feel better to be able to help," Garbarino said.

Betty Waters covers Tyler public schools, colleges and universities. She can be reached at 903.596.6286. e-mail: news@tylerpaper.com