Page 2 - Cla Delta Spotlight - Summeer 2013

Chapter News Chapter Spotlight: John Rising President’s Message As California Delta looks back on another busy and rewarding semester, it is time to take stock of our accomplishments and lay out our goals for the future. We now have 106 members after recently Our Chapter Spotlight, John Rising, from Seattle, WA, is currently working towards his degree as an Aeronautical Engineer. He is the dynamics lead of the USC Rocket Propulsion initiating the Omicron Phikeia class. Laboratory and may take a trip to Mars one day. Read on to fnd out more! We were excited to have some alumni at our most recent initiation ceremony, What do you enjoy most about being a USC. I took a long time to realize what I especially David Castilla (Texas Lambda) Cal Delta brother? want to study. In fact, I enrolled at USC to watch his son Nick Castilla become Cal Delt’s strength is its diversity. You as a theatre major! Luckily it didn’t take initiated. Similarly, we were pleased to could write a spotlight on each of us and long to realize that I didn’t want to work host chapter alumni and local Phis alike never encounter the same story. in theatre, and I spent a few semesters for our annual Founder’s Day Dinner. as a theatre/physics double major before We again achieved academic What type of work are you doing with transferring to mechanical engineering. excellence and achieved a house average rockets? I still love and stay involved in physics. 3.25 GPA, which is higher than both the I am the dynamics lead of the USC In addition to being in USCRPL, I lead IFC and All-Men’s average and earned Rocket Propulsion Laboratory a (formerly) NASA-funded solar physics the chapter the University’s Scholarship (USCRPL), a group of undergrads that research project that studies sound waves Award. We are also proud to have received designs and builds high powered rockets. in the sun. the Community Service Award, as well Our big project is becoming the frst as Certifcates of Excellence in Risk student group to send a rocket to outer Have you given any thought to the Management, Membership Recruitment, space. This rocket has been designed, Mars colonization program (one way and Alumni Relations. built, and tested - paperwork permitting, ticket)? Two of our members received this rocket will fy in September! We The “one-way ticket” Mars colonization prestigious awards this semester: Daniel also have a lot of other small research project being developed by Mars One is Moline and Wiley Strahan. Daniel, our projects, including studying solid and laughably unrealistic. At best, Mars One former chapter president, was awarded liquid fuels, advanced nozzles, and is quixotic. At worst, Mars One is a scam. President of the Year by the University composite pressure vessels. My work That being said, I would totally join a and Wiley was named Undergraduate with the group focuses on writing one-way Mars colonization program. Student Government Director of the Year. computer programs that simulate our The semester was also flled with rocket motors. Do you have any plans yet for after an exciting social calendar. We’ve held graduation? events with all the sororities, ranging Has this always been your interest or I hope to get a Master’s in Astronautical from country themed nights to salsa did it develop while in school? Engineering and work for a commercial dancing lessons. We also held exchanges I was always interested in space sciences, spacefight company. with many sororities and held another but my interest in rocketry developed at wildly fun spring formal in Las Vegas. As always, graduation is a bittersweet time as we say goodbye to our seniors, Congratulations to our but we are excited about all their future endeavors. The rest of the active chapter 2013 Graduates! looks forward to a productive summer and another great academic year in the fall. Nick Bral Jason Kerns Tavish Nanda Dustin Byer Tommi Koho JJ Russo Yours in the Bond, Andrew Christopher Scott Lindemann Ali Sheikhpour Jacob Curry Eli Russell Linnetz Aria Soroudi Sean Gallagher Patrick Liou Wiley Strahan Pablo Ortiz Matt Garcia Daniel Moline Peter Lee Johnson Andrew Montalvo