With Johnny McDonald | Downtown News
Air and Space Scholarships
The San Diego Air & Space Museum recently selected 12 San Diego County students to receive $45,000 in scholarships for their capabilities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The scholarships are given annually on behalf of three Museum-administered scholarship funds: Bill Gibbs, R.A. “Ken” Rearwin and the Convair Alumni Association.
To date, 229 talented San Diego students have been awarded a total of $627,500.
“I’m very proud there are many students studying math and science,” said Donna Lilly, president of the Endowment Board at the Museum. “The U.S. really needs to keep up with the global market for math and science in the field of technology.”
“Every year we interview so many outstanding students,” said Charles Pinney, member of the Endowment Board. “Their accomplishments are unbelievable.”
Jim Kidrick, Museum president commented, “These scholarship programs exemplify our intent to aid deserving students wanting to advance their education – our entire mission is really all about inspiring our next greatest generations to excel in their lives.”
Bill Gibbs Endowment Scholars were Daniel Fugett, San Dieguito Academy; Sojung An, Cathedral Catholic High; Courtney Hesse, Canyon Crest Academy and Kelsey Belmont, Grossmont High.
R.A. Rearwin Endowment Scholars were Brian Pham, Rancho Buena Vista High and Joseph Diamond, Point Loma High,
Convair Alumni Association Endowment Scholars were Elizabeth Hartmeier, Academy of Our Lady of Peace; Julie Medenwald, Academy of Our Lady of Peace; Daniel Roberts, Grossmont High; Anna Schwab, Poway High; Watcharapong Sangsuwan, Mar Vista High and Mark Traganza, Francis Parker High.
On to Broadway
Chase Fischer of Coronado School of the Arts and Nicolette Burton of Canyon Crest Academy were Old Globe Honors winners as leading actor and actress in a high school musical and are headed to Broadway.
They’ll be competing in the National High School Musical Theater Awards/The Jimmy Awards competition at New York’s Minskoff Theater.
Other Globe winners were Jonathan Edzant of Canyon Crest Academy and Kelly Prendergast of Grossmont High (outstanding achievement in musical theater), Patrick Gates of San Diego Virtual Schools and Sara Rose Carr of Canyon Crest Academy (outstanding achievement in spoken theater) and Chad Mata of Coronado School of the Arts (outstanding achievement in technical theater).
Each winner received a $1,000 scholarship.
Lindbergh goggles on display
The goggles worn by Charles Lindbergh during his historic flight across the Atlantic in 1927 are on display at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in honor of the flight’s 85th anniversary. They are part of the Museum’s current special exhibition, “How Things Fly,” a fun, hands-on exhibit exploring the forces of flight through four interactive zones.
In addition, other artifacts include Lindbergh’s Medal of Honor, a piece of fabric from the original Wright Flyer and the Red Baron’s medals.
Lindbergh had given the goggles to the manager of the Le Bourget aerodrome in Paris on May 21, 1927, in appreciation for concealing him from the huge crowd that came to the landing strip to see his plane.
The goggles remained in the manager’s possession until 1979, when, after an investigation, several aviation enthusiasts from La Jolla, including members of the Board of Trustees of the La Valencia Hotel, went to Paris and bought the artifact from the manager’s son. Those members were Gifford C. Ewing, Willis M. Allen, Sr. and Jr., James R. Ridgway and Richard P. Irwin .
New Reptile Walk at San Diego Zoo
On July 4, 2012 the San Diego Zoo will be opening a new permanent exhibit that will showcase unique species of amphibians and reptiles – many of them endangered – in their own natural habitats.
Separated by glass, Zoo guests will be able to see a wide variety of rare frogs, turtles, snakes and toads, giant horned lizards, and geckos, all up close; as well as crocodiles and critically endangered Chinese alligators, viewable in an open air pool. For more information visit www.sandiegozoo.org.
After an award winning, 38-year sports-writing career with the San Diego Union and authoring three books, Johnny McDonald now considers writing a hobby. He enjoys covering aspects of the port district, convention center, Balboa Park, zoo, and stories with a historical bent. You can reach him at [email protected].
