Day 2: NC State celebration of astronaut Christina Koch continues with Q&A with students

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- NC State University welcomed NASA astronaut and three-time alum Christina Koch back to campus Monday for a two-day celebration.

On day one of her first visit, Koch was surprised by the university's announcement that the Engineering Building II will be renamed Christina Hammock Koch Hall.

Chancellor Kevin Howell announced the building's new name during the ceremony. "I am delighted as Chancellor to announce that Engineering Building Two will henceforth be known as Koch Hall," he said.

The university has dubbed the celebration "Around the Moon and Pack Again."

Tuesday, Koch will host a student Q&A and discussions on wellness, grit and self-trust as the university's new semester has already officially begun.

Koch, who earned degrees in physics and electrical engineering from NC State, reflected on her time as a student. "When I walked into that classroom, I wasn't Astronaut Christina Koch. I likely had ripped jeans and pink hair," she said. She added that naming a building carries meaning. "I do know that what an institution chooses to name things is a commitment to values."

In 2013, Koch spent nearly a year in orbit during a previous mission, an accomplishment Howell highlighted. "For nearly one year, our beloved state of North Carolina rolled past her window more than 5,000 times," he said.