and found out that some teams actually make their own fuel. This was very exciting. There was so much potential. Designing our own fuel and motor would not only be a huge learning experience, but also we could basically make the rocket do whatever we wanted it to do, and what I wanted it to do was reach the Karman line, which is at an altitude of 100 km and considered the edge of space. I knew Mudders had the talent to do this, so I set out to find a team of five or six people to build a rocket that would reach the Karman line. Instead of five to six Mudders, I got more than 20 who were very excited about the project! I realized a project of this scale was too much for five or six people trying to balance it with the Mudd curriculum. I created five sub teams: Structural & Aerodynamics led by Charles Dawson ’19, Fuel System led by Harry Fetsch ’20, Electronics & Telemetry led by Erik Meike ’21, Combustion Chamber led by me, and Launch Tower (added in spring 2019) led by Mariah Ewing ’20. Greg Lyzenga (Burton Bettingen Professor of Physics) gladly, but cautiously, accepted the request to be our faculty advisor. Our group of 25 students had representation from every major at Mudd The combustion chamber team was the best fit for me because I was one of two students who had taken the Compressible Flow course with Mary Cardenas, Anthony W. LaFetra Chair in Environmental Engineering, and learned the principles of supersonic flow and rocket nozzle design. My team and I designed a nozzle, chamber and ignition that we believe is viable, although we could really use some FEA testing on the nozzle design. The rest of the group made tremendous progress in designing the airframe, electronics, and the launch tower; the fuel team was even able to go out to FAR and develop some ammonium perchlorate-based test grains, a rare experience for undergrad students. I’m heading to USC to start a master’s degree in astronautical engineering. I’ll be learning a ton about rockets and even how to develop space missions, but I am most excited to work in their Liquid Propulsion Lab, where I will get hands-on experience designing, building and testing liquid rocket engines.
Follow the Leaders Leadership Awards celebrate students, faculty and staff for their contributions on campus and beyond. Recipients are chosen by a selection committee made up of peers who review submissions from nominators. Comments from nominators demonstrate why these students are so highly esteemed.
Dean Sundberg Prize: $500 award that recognizes the exceptional leadership and positive impact of a rising junior. Arielle Isaacs ’21 “Arielle embodies the Mudd value of creating a positive impact on one’s community through leadership. Through positions like working on the Honor Board, as a campus tour guide, club director for ASHMC and a Homework Hotline mentor tutor, Arielle has taken part in upholding the honor code, worked to engage other students in activities on campus and has shown exemplary work habits as a model for peers and coworkers.” Outstanding Emerging Leader: Recognizes potential of a first-year or sophomore as a campus and/or community leader. Aitzín Cornejo-Reynoso ’21 “Aitzín is a student leader and activist. A member of Society of Professional Latinos in STEMS, she is in charge of leading tutoring sessions for local high school students in partnership with Uncommon Good, a nonprofit organization. Most of the highschool students served are low-income, potential first-generation college students and/or Latinx. Aitzín is willing to work hard on behalf of others without expecting anything in return.” Skylar Gering ’22 “Skylar has a deep level of curiosity about the world in general and the natural sciences in particular. This curiosity is coupled with a strong desire to do good for the community and the planet and an incredible work ethic and positive can-do spirit. I’ve never seen Skylar unmotivated to tackle a new challenge; she
always digs in when the first attempt at a problem fails, she seeks advice as needed and works with friends and classmates. She’s a Mudder through and through: in her mind, her heart, and her actions.” Outstanding Mudder Award: Recognizes students who contribute to the community and demonstrate creativity, leadership, teamwork, ethics, inclusion, community engagement, wellness and communication in curricular and co-curricular endeavors. Charles Dawson ’19 “Charles is always willing to help out a fellow student, even a stranger. He is understanding and truly believes in the potential of everyone around him. He takes his responsibilities seriously but still has a sense of humor, and he uses that blend to lead many different groups effectively. He’s hardworking, diligent, trustworthy and kind—he thinks about the impact he wants to have on society, and is motivated and capable of creating the type of impact he wants to see.” Dorman Student Altruism Prize: $250 award recognizes a graduating senior student selected by peers as one who’s done the most for their fellow students. Natalie Kadonaga ’19 “As co-president of the Living Learning Community for the past two years, Natalie has organized events that facilitate learning and discussion of social justice issues in order to address the Harvey Mudd mission to understand our impact on society. Natalie is also active in the prison education project and in the Core Revision Committee. Natalie has taken responsibility and initiative to make Mudd and the community around her a better place.”
SUMMER 2019
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