MSU hosts SpaceTrek
Morehead State University welcomed 23 girls to campus July 6-14 for SpaceTrek, an annual residential summer camp that encourages young women to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
The camp was open to girls entering their sophomore year of high school with interests in space science and engineering. It is a collaborative effort between MSU's Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics, the MSU Space Science Center and the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
Participants in the camp worked in teams to build a small satellite, attach it to a large helium balloon and launch it from the roof of the Space Science Center. They then operated a portable satellite tracking station to collect temperature data being transmitted by the satellite. After the launch the participants interpreted data, made conclusions and presented their findings.
Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes visited the camp to participate in an atmospheric mission and launch a weather balloon equipped with a CricketSat to measure the temperature of the atmosphere. She also declared participants in this year’s camp Kentucky Ambassadors and made an educational donation of SpaceTrek toolboxes for each camper.
Kentucky House Minority Floor Leader and MSU alumnus Rep. Rocky Adkins visited the camp on Thursday, July 12, and spoke to participants about the importance of STEM education.
Twyman Clements, co-founder and CEO of SpaceTango in Lexington, sponsored the CricketSat mission.
Participants in this year's camp were:
- Jessica Allen, Liberty, Casey County High School
- Alayna Bennett, Georgetown, Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics and Scott County High School
- Marissa Blair, Morehead, Rowan County Senior High School
- Hannah Botts, Lexington, Tates Creek High School
- Brenna Bommer, Manhattan Beach, California, Mira Costa High School
- Alexis Dahnwei, Owensboro, Owensboro Innovation Academy
- Jocelyn Damron, Ashland, Ashland High School
- Cherokee Drake, Rineyville, North Hardin High School
- Laurel Embury, Lexington, STEAM Academy
- Abril Garcia, Morehead, Rowan County Senior High School
- Hunter Hayden, Henderson, Henderson County High School
- Emily Hester, Louisville, Oldham County High School
- Ellie Hite, Bardstown, Thomas Nelson High School
- Rebekah Howard, Ashland, Ashland Paul G. Blazer High School
- Allie Lewis, Olive Hill, Lakeside Christian Academy
- Leah Nichter, Louisville, Assumption High School
- Maggie Qin, Morehead, Rowan County Senior High School
- Diksha Satish, Frankfort, Western Hills High School
- Lydia Saunders, Owingsville, Bath County High School
- Paizley Stewart, London, North Laurel High School
- Grace Stubblefield, Ashland, Boyd County High School
- Jadee Sweet, Clay City, Powell County High School
- Victoria Vela, Cynthiana, Harrison County High School
For more information about the camp, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/spacetrek.
To learn more about Morehead State's Space Science Center, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/ssc.
To find out more the Craft Academy, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/craft-academy.
View Photo Gallery
Top picture: Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, center, visited the SpaceTrek camp at MSU and participated in a CricketSat mission.
Center picture: Participants in SpaceTrek 2018 are (front row, left to right): Paizley Stewart, Leah Nichter, Emily Hester, Abril Garcia, Rebekah Howard, Diksha Satish, Jadee Sweet and Laurel Embury. Middle row, left to right: Victoria Vela, Hannah Botts, Jocelyn Damron, Allie Lewis, Maggie Qin, Alexis Dahnwei, Lydia Saunders and Alayna Bennett. Back row, left to right: Ellie Hite, Hunter Hayden, Jessica Allen, Cherokee Drake, Brenna Bommer, Grace Stubblefield and Marissa Blair.
Bottom picture: Kentucky House Minority Leader and MSU alumnus Rep. Rocky Adkins visited with SpaceTrek campers on Thursday, July 12.
