BlackboardAuthority Selects Top Students for Undergraduate Space Academy
CAPE CANAVERAL - The Florida Space Authority (FSA) announces the selection of 21 exceptional candidates for the summer's undergraduate program of the Florida Space Academy. The Academy is a one-week, hands-on program committed to raising science, space and career awareness for Florida students.
"We are very excited with the caliber and quality of these students," said CAPT Winston Scott, former astronaut and FSA executive director. "They are Florida's future space professionals." The Academy received over 100 qualified applications from Florida's undergraduate college students that are actively incorporating science and space into their potential careers.
The Academy, which runs both high school and undergraduate programs for Florida students, works with educational institutions throughout the state. "My goal is to visit every Florida district and undergraduate institution seeking our state's future space professionals," said Tony Gannon, FSA director of education and international programs. Gannon also encourages academic institutions and in particular science and math educators and students to contact him personally.
The undergraduate Academy program, held at the FSA campus from May 8 -13, charges a nominal enrollment fee. "We are able to inspire Florida's best and brightest science and space students due to financial assistance from the NASA-funded Florida Space Grant Consortium (FSGC) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC)," said Gannon. "The FSGC's assistance makes the program accessible to all selected Florida students."
The project-driven program, which provides students with unique real-life, scientific and space challenges, includes interactive lectures, research, constructing a meteorological balloon, assembling a payload for a rocket launch, and on-site visits to key NASA/KSC locations. On the final day, the undergraduates will have an opportunity to meet NASA/KSC leaders and receive information on job opportunities and internships.
"The students will have to combine all their skills and expertise in life sciences, physics, computer science and engineering to face the space and science challenges the Academy will present," said Dr. Larry Chew, professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Central Florida and developer of the challenging curriculum. "In other words, they will have to become "true scientists."
The following are the selected candidates, their major or current degree, and school:
- Conor J. O'Donnell, Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida
- Christopher M. DeMarco, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Florida
- Carrie A. Simmons, Associate Science, St. Petersburg College
- Mara Jennings, Engineering Physics, Emery-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Eric P. Anderson, Aeronautical Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology
- Jason M. Bylsma, Mechanical Engineering, University of South Florida
- Svetlana Shkolyar, Physics, University of North Florida
- Erin L. Langsdorf, Mathematics, University of Central Florida
- Edward H. Hebel, Industrial Engineering, University of Central Florida
- Jonathan C. Hipps, Associate of Arts, Broward Community College
- Rodrigo I. Ocampo, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Florida
- Dante A. Buckley, Science and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Florida
- Santo Scimeca, Aeronautical Systems Engineering Technology, University of Central Florida
- Robert C. Latta, Aeronautical Engineering, Emery-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Aisha Tirmizi, Math and Science Associate of Arts, Daytona Beach Community College
- Derek J. Demeter, Physics and Astronomy, University of Central Florida
- Adam J. Fifth, Engineering Physics, Emery-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Andrea Hughes, Chemical Astronomy, Florida Institute of Technology
- Mark J. Flowers, Physics, Florida State University
- Jason A. Kitchen, Anthropology, Florida State University
- Cara Willett, Industrial Engineering, Florida State University
For more information about the Florida Space Academy, contact Gannon at t.gannon@floridaspaceauthority.com, (321) 730-5301 ext. 230, or visit www.floridaspaceauthority.com.
Florida Space Authority provides economic development for Florida through space. Established in 1989 by Florida's governor and legislature to support the retention, expansion and diversification of the state's space-related industry; Florida Space Authority has generated more than $1 billion for Florida's space-related businesses through technology, research, education, finance, tourism and launch. The Authority advances the state of space by helping space-related businesses, large and small, succeed in Florida.
