Local College Students Participate in NASA Space Science Experience

From Baldwin Wallace University: Students from our area were among 10 Baldwin Wallace University students who took a walk in the footsteps of NASA astronauts over 2017 spring break. They were the first college students in the nation to pilot a new NASA educational program designed with the help of BW faculty.

The following local students participated:

• Callie Jakuszeit of Westlake (44145), a graduate of Newbury Park High School majoring in physics.
• Justin Malave of Olmsted Falls (44138), a graduate of North Ridgeville High School majoring in physics.
• Helen Nguyen of Parma (44129), a graduate of Holy Name High School majoring in mathematics.
• Kyle Pellegrin of Seven Hills (44131), a graduate of Normandy High School majoring in physics.
• Robert Royer of Olmsted Township (44138), a graduate of Berea-Midpark High School majoring in physics.
• Marissa Samsel of Olmsted Falls (44138), a graduate of Olmsted Falls High School majoring in mathematics and physics.
• Garrett Witzke of Cleveland (44130), a graduate of Berea-Midpark High School majoring in physics.

The students, along with two BW faculty members, arrived at Space Center Houston, gateway to NASA Johnson Space Center, on Sunday, March 5, to participate in the extraordinary "Space Center U" experience.

They spent five days in Texas immersed in hands-on, innovative, inspiring activities that simulated astronaut training and real world NASA experiences such as robotics rover design, cryogenic capsule testing, rocketry and Mars habitat design. The group worked with dive instructors to learn scuba diving techniques taught to astronauts to prepare for microgravity in space.

"The underwater building challenge was really fun, and having the fastest time ever seen by the instructors was really cool," said junior Garrett Witzke. They also toured NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory and watched as two astronauts suited up and were raised by a crane into the pool where a mock-up of the International Space Station was submerged. The program, which is designed to promote teamwork, problem solving, communication and engineering solutions in space science scenarios, culminated with a graduation ceremony and exclusive "Brunch with an Astronaut." Jim McCargar, Ph.D., associate dean of the School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing worked with NASA to set the stage to elevate the curriculum of an existing week-long program for high school students to a more robust experience for college students.

"This program fits with our focus on experiential learning and may inspire some of these students to pursue careers related to space science," said Dr. McCargar. "Our NASA Space Center U colleagues approached this BW experience as a 'learning laboratory' to explore what works best with college-age students."

The incredible, ongoing opportunity for BW students will be known on campus as the Reep-Clark Space Experience in honor of Dr. Michael Reep and Wyatt Clark, whose leadership gifts, combined with the support of other alumni and faculty, launched the program for the BW students this year and set a foundation for the future. Baldwin Wallace University, founded in 1845, was one of the first colleges to admit students without regard to race or gender. An independent, coeducational university of 4,000 students, BW offers coursework in the liberal arts tradition in 75 academic areas. Located in Berea, 12 miles from downtown Cleveland, BW offers students the cultural, educational and business advantages of a major metropolitan area.

Photos courtesy of Baldwin Wallace University