Freeport-area students learn STEM, leadership skills at Honeywell academy
By Cindy Scott Day
The Journal-Standard
Posted Apr. 27, 2015 at 2:36 PM
Updated at 6:32 PM
FREEPORT — Three high school juniors participated this year in the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy, a program that uses interactive technology, science-oriented workshops and team exercises to teach leadership skills in science, technology, engineering and math.
Peyton Magee and Michaela Stich of Lena-Winslow High School and Nathan Skarlupka of Freeport High School were selected in a rigorous application and review process based on academic achievement and community involvement.
Honeywell has partnered with the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, since 2010 to offer the program to children of Honeywell employees, which is designed to encourage high schoolers from around the world to pursue STEM-related careers, according to a Honeywell news release.
This year, 306 students from 39 countries and 27 states and territories will participate in the academy. More than 1,400 students have participated since 2010.
“It was a really cool experience,” said Nathan, who is considering a career in civil or mechanical engineering. The academy included fighter-pilot training with a simulated mission fighting terrorists over mid-America and landing a moon orbiter back on Earth. “Around here, there’s not a whole lot of diversity,” said Nathan who enjoyed working cooperatively with teenagers from other countries and cultures.
Space camp was not the entire focus of the academy, Peyton said. Debate, collaboration and leadership skills were important components of the experience. “We had to step up and learn to be a good leader and work for your team. We also had to fight for our positions in debate situations.”
Peyton found the zero-gravity experience memorable.
“The simulators were amazing,” said Michaela, who got to pilot a simulated shuttle mission. “You had to push a lot of buttons, but it wasn’t too hard once you figured it out.”
She is interested in studying forensics, “which doesn’t have anything to do with space camp,” but she considers the academy a fun way to learn leadership skills.