Academic achievements, Space Academy and more for Sewickley area students

Academic achievements

The following students from the area were recognized for their academic achievement during the spring 2021 semester by being named to the dean’s, president’s or provost’s list at the college or university they attend:

• Bucknell University: Colin Fitzgerald, Olivia McLeod

• California University of Pennsylvania: Abby Peduzzi, Danialle Hawks, Taylor Cooke

• Coastal Carolina University: Madison Abbs

• Emerson College: Lee Forrest

• Saint Francis University: Andrew Schmidt

• Westminster College: Matalyn Holland

• Youngstown State University: Jared Pfister, Kamryn Rudolph

Graduates

The following area students recently graduated from college, university, trade school or military training:

• Baylor University: Christopher Joseph Azur

• Bowling Green State University: Madelynne Andrews

• Lehigh University: Katherine Keller, Elizabeth Falk, Maria Beatty

• Youngstown State University: Ashley Cuba

Advanced Space Academy

Rena Gilligan of Sewickley recently attended Advanced Space Academy at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. The Rocket Center is a Smithsonian Affiliate and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center’s Official Visitor Center.

The week-long educational program promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), while training students with hands-on activities and missions based on teamwork, leadership and problem-solving.

This program is specifically designed for trainees who have a passion for space exploration. Rena spent the week training with a team that flew a simulated space mission to the International Space Station, the Moon or Mars. The crew participated in experiments and successfully completed an extra-vehicular activity, or spacewalk. Rena and crew returned to earth in time to graduate with honors.

Space Camp is located in Huntsville, Ala., and uses astronaut training techniques to engage trainees in real-world applications of STEM subjects. Students sleep in quarters designed to resemble the ISS and train in simulators like those used by NASA.