January 2024 News
Academy Faculty Recognized by Alumni’s Colleges
Monday, January 29, 2024
Congratulations to Dr. Tom Arnold, Associate Teaching Professor of History, and Professor Susie Cunningham, Associate Lecturer of Computer Science, on being recognized by the University of Chicago and Rochester Institute of Technology respectively! Both Dr. Arnold and Professor Cunnigham were identified by Academy alumni who attend each institution for the difference they each made in the lives of the nominating students. Dr. Arnold will visit U Chicago this February and Professor Cunningham will visit RIT this March, both on fully expense paid visits sponsored by each institution. “As an academic faculty, we are all so proud of the accomplishments of Susie and Tom,” remarks Dr. Olufowote, Director of Academic Affairs. He continues to say, “Our faculty work tirelessly on the behalf of students to prepare them for success at the next level and it is heartwarming to see them recognized for their excellence in the classroom and commitments to student success.”
Ms. Susie Cunningham, Students Receive Awards from NCWIT
Friday, November 13, 2020
2020 graduate Izzy Hildebrand and senior Shivali Singireddyhave received the 2020 Award for Aspirations in Computing for Indiana from the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT). In addition, Ms. Susie Cunningham received the 2020 Aspirations in Computing Educator Award for Indiana.
The Award for AiC honors 9th-12th grade students who self-identify as women, genderqueer, or non-binary for their computing-related achievements and interests, and encourages them to pursue their passions. Award recipients are selected based on their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and plans for post-secondary education.
The AiC Educator Award identifies exemplary formal and informal educators who play a pivotal role in encouraging 9th-12th grade students who self-identify as women, genderqueer, or non-binary to explore their interests in computing and technology. The award recognizes these educators for their efforts to promote gender equity in computing.
NCWIT is the only national non-profit focused on women’s participation in computing across the entire ecosystem, helping 1,400 organizations recruit, retain, and advance women from K-12 and higher education through industry and entrepreneurial careers by providing support, evidence, and action.
Congratulations to Izzy, Shivali, and Ms. Cunningham!
More information about NCWIT and the Aspirations in Computing Awards can be found at www.aspirations.org.
PhyxtGears Robotics Team Wins Bloomington Regional Competition
Monday, March 9, 2020
The PhyxtGears Robotics Team traveled to the Bloomington Robotics Regional, held March 7 and 8 in Bloomington, Indiana. During qualifying rounds on Saturday, the team hit a glitch with a falling game controller and were ranked 17th out of more than 50 competing teams. After securing a different controller and making some adjustments, the PhyxtGears robot went on a winning streak and moved up to first place by the end of qualification.
On Sunday, the team advanced through the semi-finals and finals, ultimately winning the entire competition. Congratulations to the entire PhyxtGears Robotics Team!
Team members include Aakash Kambham, Mary Petitte, Wenhan Tang, Kush Patel, Bryce Berger, Robby Sammelson, Kavin Saravanan, Enzo Nate, Shivali Singireddy, Kaan Ulasan, Sebastian Moyer and Samantha Doris.
Below is a slideshow of photos from the competition.
Satellite Designed by Indiana Academy Students Set to Launch Aboard a NASA Rocket
Friday, October 19, 2018
Susie Cunningham, an Academy computer science instructor, along with a class of her students have been collaborating with a company called Near Space Launch (www.nearspacelaunch.com) on a “ThinSat” satellite project. Near Space Launch donated several of the ThinSat kits to the Academy. The satellite designed by the Academy students is only one of a few selected to have their ThinSat launch into orbit. The NG-10 mission that includes their ThinSat is scheduled to launch on November 15, 2018 from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia aboard a Northrop Grumman Antares rocket on a resupply mission to the International Space Station. Update: The launch date for the ThinSat has been moved to NG-11 in the spring of 2019.
Susie and her students have been designing, building, testing, and operating the ThinSat kits since last year. Phase 1 of the ThinSat kit included components that could be used to learn about electronics and sensors, and perform small balloon flight experiments. The Phase 2 kit included an Engineering Unit of the ThinSat as a practice unit for the students to design and test their payloads. Their units, or exact replicas of them, flew on several high altitude balloon launches this past summer to perform an end-to-end test of the system. The Phase 3 Flight Units were built and integrated by Near Space Launch, using the design specifications or custom payloads delivered to them by the Academy.
Once the Academy’s ThinSat is launched and deployed into orbit from the Antares rocket, Near Space Launch will begin live streaming data over their servers, which can then be accessed by students at the Academy. They will be able to see the data from their satellite, along with data from every other school, streaming over the internet in real time. This will then allow them to perform data analysis and understanding of what is happening in orbit.
The Indiana Academy’s logo and signatures of the students involved with the project are included on the ThinSat that is set to launch aboard the NASA rocket. The launch date is subject to change, and this story will be updated if it does.
HOSA Leadership Conference
Friday, April 13, 2018
The Indiana Academy HOSA “warriors” attended the State Leadership Conference in Indianapolis from April 9–11 in order to participate in learning sessions and compete in various subjects. The Health Occupations Student Association (HOSA) promotes knowledge of Health Professions and the skills required in the professions.
The Academy group did well making the finals in Original Medical Innovations (Hailey Chang, Amber Zhao, Risha Mehta and Yuna Lee), Interviewing skills (Priya Chaudhary), Pharmacology (Michelle Cai), Epidemiology (Yuna Lee & Priya Chaudhary), Human Growth & Development (Risha Mehta), Medical Law & Ethics (Yuna Lee), and Nutrition (Amber Zhao). Yuna Lee took first place in the state in both Medical Law and Ethics and Epidemiology.
Participating in other competitions (Sports Medicine, Physical Therapy, Biomedical Lab Science, Medical Math, & Pathophysiology) were Lily Adney, Katie Decker, Rahul Agarwal, and Libby Haupert.
The group was accompanied by Mr. Mike Mayfield and Ms. Susie Cunningham. Congratulations are due these students on an excellent effort over a good and busy couple of days.