are invited to Thursday’s Grissom Classic
and Scholarship Banquet in Jasper.
AS THE CLOCK COUNTS DOWN to Thursday’s shotgun start, the Purdue Club of the Dubois County Area issues yet another invitation for all golfers, alumni, fans and friends of Purdue to join Club members and golfers in the 2010 “Gus” Grissom Classic and Scholarship Banquet at Sultan’s Run, in Jasper, on Thursday, June 24.
“We invite everyone to join us on Thursday,” said Club President Don Book. “We have arranged a terrific special guest from Purdue, and already expect a large turn-out to join us in honoring this year’s four Grissom Scholars. Sign in by noon on Thursday, and join us!”
The very-special guest, from Purdue’s departments
of Engineering and Aeronautics and Astronautics,
is Dr. Barrett S. Caldwell.
“Dr. Caldwell has deep ties to Purdue and NASA and the Indiana Space-Grant Consortium,” added Book. “If any high-school students have any questions about engineer- ing, aeronautics or astronautics, Dr. Caldwell represents your very best opportunity to ask questions and learn how much Purdue offers you, and how much a degree from Purdue University will be worth to your career in the air. He'll have plenty time to talk with you on Thursday.”
Dr. Caldwell will also enjoy a day of golf with all who attend. The shotgun-start will happen at 1 p.m. E.D.T. Dr. Caldwell, who grew up in Philadelphia, will make his first appearance on the golf course – any golf course – in thirty years. Golf analysts do not expect him to win the Classic, but he does look forward to enjoying a day of fellowship with those who do.
Dr. Caldwell’s credentials as an engineer and aviator are far more impressive than those as a golfer: He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with two B.S. degrees, in 1985. He then earned a Master’s Degree at University of California-Davis in 1987, and a Doctorate, same university, in 1990.
Currently, Dr. Caldwell spends his time teaching at Pur- due, sharing public relations across Indiana and spreading word of the Discovery project.
“Half of my job is in ‘Discovery and Learning.’ That involves me in research into spaceflight and healthcare teams,” said Dr. Caldwell. “It’s all about interacting with students on our Fall Space Day and FIRST Robotics.” Dr. Caldwell even helps write the textbooks used at Purdue and many other research universities across America. “It is our job – my job – to be a resource and source of excel- lence for the state and its citizens, and to help communi- cate that value within and beyond our state boundaries.”
"In the Beginning..."
SPEAKING OF "BEYOND BOUNDARIES,” Dr. Caldwell traces his interest in space to a night that no participant in the Space Race has yet forgotten: Dec. 24, 1968 – a Bench- mark of world history in which three American astronauts became the first humans to witness “earthrise” above the lunar horizon. "Yes, I stayed up on Christmas Eve 1968 to watch the broadcast of Apollo 8. Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders gave the Genesis reading, and I knew that was what I wanted to do with my life."
He enjoys the past as much as he enjoys his current duties, but there’s more. There is also the public-relations angle, and that is what will bring him to the county and the Classic on Thursday.
“I describe myself as an explorer and scout, and it's essen- tial for me to be able to explain and translate what I do for alumni, students, and the public,” Dr. Caldwell said in a May interview. “This is true for my job as Director of the Indiana Space Grant: Our mission from NASA is to inspire, engage, educate and employ the next generation of explor- ers." Dr. Caldwell might meet some of them next week.
When the day’s golf concludes, attendees will move in- doors for a catered banquet, remarks from Dr. Caldwell, and presentation of the winners of the 2010 Grissom Scho- larships. They are: Ms. Hannah Burgess and Mr. Tyler Jenkins, both of Jasper High School; Ms. Molly Johnson, NE Dubois High School, and Mr. Justin Wendholt, of Forest Park High School. The four will receive their scholarship checks at the banquet.
The Grissom Scholarship is named in honor of astronaut Virgil “Gus” Grissom. Grissom graduated from Purdue in 1950, was named as one of America’s “Original Seven” astronauts in 1959, and became the first astronaut named to fly in each of America’s original spaceflight projects — Mercury, Gemini and Apollo.
All people who need information, who would like to take part in the day’s banquet or golf – regardless of handicap – and all who need information on joining the Purdue Club, are asked to contact Mr. Craig Knies at ph.: 634-1635, or E-mail at: c.knies@insightbb.com today.
No comments:
Post a Comment