Military retirement
Major Gregory Leeds of Emporia has retired from a military career of more than 20 years. He served in Emporia for 15 years, starting as armor crewman, then tank platoon leader, then executive officer, and, the last four years served as Tank Company Commander. In the retirement ceremony held Aug. 15 at Fort Leavenworth, Leeds was recognized for “Meritorious service — Major Leeds has faithfully served his country for over 20 years. He served in the above-named positions, along with Tank Commander, BN S3 Air, BN S4, BN S5 and Battle Major for the 35th ID. “Major Leeds was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Kosovo in October 2004 and Hurricane Gustav in 2008. He readily performed any task and mission required with enthusiasm and dedication . Major Leeds is a true example of the National Guard “Citizen Soldier,” serving his community, his unit and country in wartime and in peace and bearing true faith and allegiance to all,” stated the news release.
Basic training
Air Force Airman Coby N. Onek and Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Allan M. Punches graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. The airmen completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Onek, a 2008 graduate of Chase County High School in Cottonwood Falls, is the son of Cammy Onek of El Dorado and the grandson of Patty Onek of Lebo.
Punches, a 2007 graduate of Osage City High School, is the son of Linda Anderson of Osage City.
Astronaut training
James Olsson of Emporia graduated July 24 from Level 2 of the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center Future Astronaut Training Program (FATP). Olsson, the son of Ron and Jenny Olsson of Emporia, will be an eighth-grade student at Emporia Middle School this fall. The week-long astronaut camp is for students entering grades 7-10 and emphasizes teamwork, leadership and problem solving. The camp builds on knowledge gained from FATP level 1, also held at the Cosmosphere, which is in Hutchinson. Developed by Cosmosphere staff, FATP is a nationally-recognized camp that motivates campers to seek careers in space-related industries, stated the news release.
Level 2 “incorporates aspects of astronaut training with advanced courses in space shuttle systems, space physiology and microgravity science. The camp capstone is a two-hour simulated space shuttle mission to the International Space Station.” Level 2 participants also work in teams to produce a video about one of the artifacts in the museum, have a full day of scuba training and underwater exercises and construct “complex” robots for a simulated Mars mission. For more information, call (800) 397-0330, Ext. 323 or see www.cosmo.org.
Chemist recognized
Former Emporian Jeff Johnson received the Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award from the American Chemical Society in “recognition of excellence in organic chemistry,” stated an August 2009 article in the NCU College of Arts and Sciences magazine. He is an associate professor of chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Johnson, a 1990 graduate of Emporia High School, is the son of Ken and Julie Johnson of Emporia.
The article said he has won many awards given to young chemists, including the National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2203-2008) and the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2006-20009). He was also named an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow (2006-2008).