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Mountain Ridge student earns space camp scholarship

Posted 12/10/19

Mountain Ridge freshman Shane Feichtinger recently attended the Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama, on a scholarship from the Deer Valley Education Foundation and Space Academy sponsor, Grads …

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Mountain Ridge student earns space camp scholarship

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Mountain Ridge freshman Shane Feichtinger recently attended the Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama, on a scholarship from the Deer Valley Education Foundation and Space Academy sponsor, Grads Photography.

Space Academy is an increased intensity program of astronaut and mission training and academics. At the Space Academy, students used real life STEM lessons in ways that could lead to a successful career in science and engineering.

“I had an absolute blast at Space Academy!” Shane said. :Over the course of the week, from constructing an ablative heat shield as was used in the Saturn VCapsule and building a functional rocket to participating in missions in which I conducted experiments as a lunar mission specialist and took charge as a flight director, I participated in countless activities that couldn’t be done anywhere else”

“Not only was I able to interact with people from other states, but other countries as well, including China, Taiwan and Great Britain,” Shane said. “Overall, though the missions were my favorite part of camp, I will be forever grateful to DVEF for the entire experience.”

Before attending Mountain Ridge this fall, Shane attended Terramar Academy of the Arts in Peoria.

Each applicant submitted an essay explaining why they wanted to attend Space Academy. An independent panel of judges interviewed semi-finalists.

Shane was joined by fellow DVUSD student Alivia Bringhurst from Sonoran Foothills School in Phoenix.

“Thank you Deer Valley Education Foundation and Grads Photography for giving me this amazing opportunity to go to Space Camp,” Alivia said. “I enjoyed everything about Space Camp, but my most favorite part was the simulated missions. At camp, we did two missions; a lunar mission and a L.E.O (Low Earth Orbit) mission. For the LEO mission, I was mission commander. My job requirements were to takeoff, fly, dock with the ISS, and land the Discovery Space Shuttle. Along the way we encountered anomalies, which we had to work to solve as a team.

“I learned so much at Space Camp, some of the most interesting topics I learned about were future space exploration and what my generation’s role will be in space,” Alivia said. “NASA is looking for geologists and botanists for this generation of astronauts, sign me up!”

Since 1986, the Deer Valley Education Foundation (DVEF) has awarded more than $1.58 Million dollars to Deer Valley students and staff through programs and grants.