Astronaut training
The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center at Hutchinson graduated Alex Neises, son of Glenn and Connie Neises, from level 3 of its Future Astronaut Training Program this summer. The week-long camp is for students entering grades seven through 10. Developed by Cosmosphere staff, the program is intended to motivate campers to seek careers in space-related industries.
Level 3 campers spend two days at the Cosmosphere, then travel to Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, for further training.
In Houston, campers tour Building 9, which houses NASA’s space shuttle trainers and the International Space Station mock-up. Level 3 campers also tour the former and current mission control centers, the vacuum chamber and the Neutral Buoyancy Lab’s 6.2-million-gallon pool, where astronauts to train for work in microgravity.
Before going to Houston, campers train at the Cosmosphere in the 4-G Centrifuge and in the multi-axis trainer.
Receives degree
April Lagg of Emporia was awarded an associate of applied science in criminal justice degree from Kaplan University during the commencement ceremony Aug. 4.
Up the hill
Katherine Ann Moneymaker of Emporia participated in the annual Walk Up the Hill at the University of Kansas on Aug. 13. According to a news release, the walk signifies the beginning of a higher education journey for the 189 Mount Oread scholars whose ultimate goal is to walk down the hill upon graduation.
Moneymaker, a freshman, is studying pre-social welfare. She is a graduate of Emporia High School and is the daughter of Richard and Cynthia Moneymaker.