Page 2 - Aerotech News and Review, August 5, 2022

SOAR High School Student Wins NASA Armstrong Scholarship
NASA photograph by Josh Fisher
The Employee Exchange Council at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif., recently awarded its 2022 scholarship to Katelyn Perez. Perez accepts the scholarship from Acting NASA Armstrong Center Director Brad Flick. From left are Annamarie Perez, John Perez, Carlos Perez, Katelyn Perez and Flick.
• • • •
Reader’s Services
How to contact Aerotech News and Review
E-Mail: editor@aerotechnews.com Phone: (661) 945-5634
Fax: (661) 723-7757
Website: www.aerotechnews.com
Advertising
Corporate Headquarters: (877) 247-9288
Email: sbueltel@aerotechnews.com
Subscriber Services
Subscriptions to Aerotech News and Review are $59 for six months or $89 for one year. For more information, contact the subscription department at: (661) 945-5634
Story ideas, letters, editorials
Please send all letters and editorials to Stuart A. Ibberson, Editor,
at editor@aerotechnews.com.
Web Site
Access the Aerotech News web site at www.aerotechnews.com
Submissions for upcoming events, air shows and museums
should be emailed to editor@aerotechnews.com.
For questions concerning the web site, contact the webmaster at webmaster@aerotechnews.com.
Where you can get Aerotech News and Review
For information on Aerotech distribution, call (661) 945-5634 or visit www.aerotechnews.com/distribution.
Aerotech News and Review is published every other Friday, serving the aerospace and defense industry of Southern California, Nevada and Arizona. News and ad copy deadline is noon on the Tuesday prior to publication. The publisher assumes no responsibility for error in ads other than space used. Your comments are welcomed and encouraged. Write to the address below.
• Publisher ....................Paul Kinison
• Business Manager ....... Lisa Kinison
• Editors .................. Stuart Ibberson
................................. Jenna Bigham
• National Advertising
Manager .....................Paul Kinison
Aerotech News and Review e-mail: editor@aerotechnews.com Visit our web site at www.aerotechnews.com
by Jay Levine
NASA Armstrong
The NASA Armstrong Employee Ex- change Council presented the 2022 John W. Russell Memorial Scholarship Award to Katelyn Perez.
Perez is a 2022 graduate of Students on Academic Rise (SOAR) High School in Lan- caster, Calif., who plans to major this fall in English at the University of California, Irvine. She earned a 4.57 grade-point aver- age and ranked 36 academically at her high school out of a class of 114 students.
The scholarship provides $2,000 per year for up to four years for attendance at a four- year college or university, provided the re- cipient maintains a minimum grade-point av- erage of 3.0 or higher. Applicants for the an- nual scholarship must be high school seniors with a parent working at NASA Armstrong.
Perez was surprised when she learned of her selection.
“I could not believe it,” Perez said. “This is the first scholarship I have won and I’m excited!”
She is the daughter of Carlos and Annama- rie Perez of Lancaster, Calif. Carlos Perez is the NASA Armstrong X-59 lead quality assurance specialist.
“It was great news for our family,” her
father said.
Katelyn Perez wants to be a community
college or university English professor, share her love for literature, and inspire students. She credits her work ethic to her parents and her love of literature and en- thusiasm for teaching to her mother, who is an English professor at Antelope Valley College.
“My mom raised three kids and some- times worked two jobs,” Perez said. “I was inspired. I had some great teachers and my mother’s example of what I want to do. Any great teacher wants to inspire, and I want to be like them and do that.”
Annamarie Perez is proud of her daughter, who she taught in sophomore year of high school, and supports her career choice.
“Katelyn will help future generations to get ahead and succeed in college,” she said. “Education is the best tool to change the world because it opens doors and provides access to opportunities.”
To prepare for her future, Perez com- pleted the Antelope V alley College Honors Program while attending high school. She excelled in advanced placement and honors classes, earned the California State Seal of Biliteracy, received the National Honor So- ciety Medal, and graduated as a member of the California Scholarship Federation.
At SOAR, she was vice president of the Christian club, and was treasurer for the National Honors Society, the California Scholarship Federation, and for the school’s journalism program. She published articles in the school’s monthly newspaper, and was lead anchor on the school’s news broadcasts, both called the SOARce. Perez participated in student government, mentored new stu- dents, was a member of the Hispanic and LatinX Heritage Club, the Key Club, a tutor, and active in her church.
NASA Armstrong Exchange Council scholarships are named for five former Arm- strong employees, with honorees selected on a rotating basis. Russell, who is named on the current scholarship, was the original crew chief for Chuck Yeager on the X-1 program that resulted in achieving speeds above Mach 1. Russell later flew as one of the panel operators when the X-15 rocket plane launched from the NASA B-52 and reached the edge of space.
In addition to Russell, the other four peo- ple are Thomas Finch, a center engineer who specialized in stability and control; Joseph Vensel, a former director of Flight Opera- tions; Harold Walker, a former chief of the Aerodynamics Branch; and Joseph Walker, a chief test pilot. Scholarship funds are raised from council activities.
2
Aerotech News and Review
August 5, 2022
www.aerotechnews.com ........ facebook.com/aerotechnewsandreview