Submitted by CCAC
The Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) will host Space Day 2024 at CCAC Allegheny Campus on Thursday, Sept.12. Pittsburgh native Mike Fincke, NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Air Force colonel, will be visiting Pittsburgh to participate in the main event as the featured guest in a special presentation and discussion with more than 250 invited students from 14 area high schools.
The program will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the second-floor auditorium of the Foerster Student Services Center. The event will open with a presentation by Mike Hennessy, Manager of Learning & Programs, at the Moonshot Museum. The students will then learn about space travel from Col. Fincke during his presentation. Following the formal program, students will participate in demonstrations and activities in CCAC’s new Center for Education, Innovation & Training.
WHEN/WHERE:
Thursday, Sept. 12
Foerster Student Services Center Auditorium
CCAC Allegheny Campus
808 Ridge Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
9:00 a.m. to 9:10 a.m.:
Welcome/Introduction: Dr. Stephen Wells, CCAC Provost & Chief Academic Officer and Dr. Justin Starr, CCAC Endowed Professor of Advanced Technologies
9:10 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.:
Moonshot Museum Presentation: Mike Hennessy, Moonshot Museum Manager of Learning & Programs
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.:
Feature Presentation and Q&A: Edward Michael “Mike” Fincke, NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Air Force colonel
11:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.:
Brief introduction of the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program (SSEP) Mission 17 CCAC Student Experiment that returned from space in 2023: Dr. Justin Starr, CCAC Endowed Professor of Advanced Technologies
Acknowledgment of Parkway Career & Technology Center students who designed the mission patches and presentation to the school of the mission patches that returned from space in December 2023. Brief introduction of the Mission 18 winning CCAC SSEP Student Experiment set to launch into space later this month.
11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.:
Students will participate in activities and demonstrations involving microgravity simulators and interactive robotics. Representatives from The Carnegie Science Center will also be on hand to demonstrate and engage students in the prototyping of Rovers. Students will construct and test a vehicle that can successfully roll across uneven and dangerous terrain and view Rover landing sites to learn about surface features on the moon and on Mars and how space agencies choose landing sites.
Media Contact:
Dena Rose Buzila, CCAC Public Relations Director | 412.498.2872 (mobile)/dbuzila@ccac.edu
About Edward "Mike" Fincke:
https://www.nasa.gov/people/edward-michael-mike-fincke/
About CCAC:
Since its founding in 1966, CCAC has flourished, becoming the educational powerhouse it is today—a nationally renowned two-year college dedicated to serving all members of the community. From groundbreaking student success initiatives to top-ranked academic and career-based programs, CCAC continues to be the college of choice for nearly one out of every two adults in Allegheny County.
Each year, 30,000+ students enroll at CCAC, taking advantage of more than 130 degree, certificate, diploma and transfer programs as well as hundreds of noncredit and workforce development courses. Comprising four campuses and three neighborhood centers along with other off-site locations, CCAC is honored to have one of the largest veteran student populations in the state and takes pride in ranking among the nation’s top community colleges for the number of individuals graduating in nursing and the health-related professions.
CCAC graduates have transferred to the nation’s most prestigious colleges and universities, have obtained the most academically challenging and competitive degrees, and can be found at leading companies, organizations and institutions throughout the country. CCAC alumni are actively engaged in every sector of society, providing leadership to scores of economic, scientific, civic and philanthropic entities both in the Pittsburgh region and around the world. Visit ccac.edu to learn more.