Garet Itz with EM gun
Garet Itz, B.S. Aerospace Engineering, University of Texas at Austin.
Employed at the Institute of Advanced Technologies (UT) working on
hypervelocity projectiles and his M.S. in Aerospace Engineering.
“Fredericksburg High School’s Aeroscience Program gave me a firm
foundation in science and engineering allowing me to excel in
collegiate level engineering and gain employment at the Army's
premier university-affiliated research center working on advanced
electric weapons for future combat vehicles.”
Keneth Piñera
Massachusetts's Institute of Technology, MIT - B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Employed at FMC Technologies (Product Engineer)
“Going through the FHS Aero program (STEM) showed me that hands-on
learning is an extremely valuable tool. Not only did it teach me to push
my boundaries, it allowed me to see that I could achieve much more than
I had thought was possible. I appreciate that I had the opportunity to go
through a program that allowed self-learning with hands-on experience as
that was instrumental in my transition to studies at MIT and now in my
work life at FMC Technologies.”
Laura Crenwelge
B.S. Biomedical Engineering,
Texas A&M University
M.S. Aerospace Engineering,
Stanford University
Image from NASA’s
Johnson Space Center
Engineering Directorate
working on the water
reclamation unit for longterm human flight.
Presently, employed at
Elon Musk’s SolarCity.
“Mr. Williams deepened our understanding of physics and engineering
principles and helped us develop valuable problem-solving, teamwork,
critical thinking, and communication skills by providing us with an
exceptional practical application opportunity.”
“The FHSAP project was the most formative experience of my high school
career. Without having participated in it, I doubt I would have pursued a
degree in biomedical engineering at Texas A&M University, co-oping with
NASA Johnson Space Center, or desiring to become an astronaut myself.”
Received
“Eagle Eye” award
from NASA and
Lockheed Martin
for calling abort
on an SSME test
during his time
working on SSME
test stand.
Awarded
NASA’s prestigious
Silver Snoopy in
2009 – youngest
to receive the
award since Apollo
era.
Justin Junell on SSME test stand.
B.S. Applied physics, Kettering University.
Employed at NASA’s Stennis Space Center
Working on M.S. in Mechanical Engineering.
“The FHSAP has had a tremendous impact on my life.
It sparked my
interest in engineering and aerospace and helped me decide to pursue an
engineering degree in college; and, ultimately a career in the aerospace
industry. Currently, I work in the modeling and analysis division of
NASA’s Propulsion Test Directorate and am pursuing a Master’s Degree in
Mechanical Engineering. I attribute FHSAP as the crux of my success. It
helped me to see, for the first time, what I wanted to do with my life.”
Joshua Jung
Co-Director/Technical Director of SpaceX Propulsion Center
B.S. Aerospace Engineering, Purdue University
“The Fredericksburg High School Aeroscience Program ignited my interest in
aerospace engineering. Through both technical and hands-on experience, the
FHSAP gave me the capability and eagerness to pursue a career in Aerospace.
I am currently employed by Space Exploration Technologies. At SpaceX, I am
the lead test engineer for the Falcon 1 Rocket’s engine and structures, I am the
lead engineer in the design and build of the Falcon 5/9 test stands, and I am
responsible for flight propellant loading and propulsion monitoring. I can
undeniably say that I would not be where I am today without the FHSAP.”
Joel Appel at United Space Alliance.
Joel Appel, B.S. and M.S. Aerospace Engineering, University of Texas-Austin,
“The (FHSAP) inspired me to study aerospace engineering at the University of
Texas in Austin. Though the university provided me a multitude of research
options and projects, none inspired me as much as the original class in
Fredericksburg when we built the 15-foot rocket. Today I work at United Space
Alliance where I am a Propulsion Systems Analyst for the Shuttle Program. I
really enjoy what I do and I am glad I can trace it back to a class, a project,
and a program that inspired me to get here.”
Garrett Laughlin
Masters in Business Administration
The Fuqua School of Business – Duke
University
Cross Continent Program with Residencies in China, Dubai,
India, Russia and USA
B.S. Aerospace Engineering
Texas A&M University
Sigma Gamma Tau National Outstanding Senior Aerospace
Award Recipient
President – AIAA, Texas A&M Chapter
Current:
Project Lead Engineer –
FMC Technologies
2013 Key Manager Award Recipient
Past: SpaceX – Propulsion Engineer
“ The FHSAP ignited my passion for flight and engineering through a
hands-on approach that showed me how to take an idea and transform
it into reality. Through the FHSAP, I developed the early leadership and
technical skills that have led to my success in both university and
industry settings. I can’t think of any other program that would have
laid a stronger foundation for my career which has spanned across
aerospace and oil and gas.”
Robert Deaver in UT EE lab
B.S. Electrical Engineering,
M.S. in EE at University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Employed, Real Time Electronics - global
“Launching a rocket of that size…was a colossal goal. We did the research,
designed, and built the Redbird1 in six-months. It definitely aided in
preparing me for pursuing a technical degree; the research and teamwork
skills I acquired working on it are invaluable from college to career.”
Keegan Dale, United States Air Force
B.S. Computer Science, United States Air Force Academy
Today - USAF Pilot
“The PT program (SystemsGo) helped me a lot in my core Aeronautical and
Astronautical Engineering classes at the Air Force Academy. A good deal of the
information that was covered in both of those classes was a lot of review from PT1.
It also helped me out in the other core engineering classes I took (mech., civil,
electrical, etc.) as it gave me a great basis on how to learn in the engineering class
environment.”
Benjamin Williams
U.S. Air Force Academy - Astronautical Engineering
Team Lead Engineer, Airborne Laser Program, AFRL at Kirtland AFB.
Space/Cyber Ops, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright Patterson AFB.
“Taking on the rigors of design and development, FHSAP provided me
the opportunity to learn how to learn.
Through projects where
students are expected to research, design, test, analyze, and develop,
I learned the essential skills that enabled me to succeed at the United
States Air Force Academy and my career.”
Ty Baethge - AMERISTAR
Captain – Pilot
Oklahoma School of Aeronautics
William Moldenhauer
BS University of Texas, Computer Engineering
Employed Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Systems
Rob Williams
Graduate: U.S. Naval Academy, Physics
Naval F-18 Super-Hornet Aviator
“SystemsGo was one of the most profitable components of my educational experience and a major
driving factor for the path that I have pursued since. Currently in the Advanced Jet Training phase of
Naval Flight school, I will be flying the F-18 Super Hornet beginning in May for my career. From an
outsider's perspective, it seems nearly impossible that a group of teenagers could ever accomplish such
great feats. The responsibilities that we had and problems that we dealt with every day in that class
carried right over to my experience as a Physics Major at the Naval Academy. Taught how to approach
situations with an abstract point of view, we learned to think out of the box and to be resourceful with
what we had at our disposal. While a technical class such as this may not be beneficial for all high school
students, I believe that anybody hoping to pursue a career in science or engineering can build a great
foundation for their future through this program.”
Nicole Bartell
University of Texas School of Law
Space Law
B. S. & B. A. Business and Astronomy
University of Texas
Drew Crenwelge
Aerospace Engineering, Purdue University
Internships at NASA/JSC and SpaceX
Employed SpaceX, 2010, Propulsion Engineer
“I always liked math and science but never figured out what I could
really do in those areas to make a difference in anything. The class
provided a means to relate everything we've ever been taught in school,
plus it allowed us to get our hands dirty, and that's when I knew I
wanted to become an engineer. I look back on it, and consider myself
along with everyone in that class some of the luckiest kids for being able
to take a class like that at a time when nothing else like it existed.”
Appointed as new TDL –
Technical Downlink Leader –
for the Mars’ Opportunity rover.
Interned at
NASA’s JSC
and JPL and
at SpaceX.
Rebekah Sosland
University of Texas at Austin - Aerospace Engineering
Recipient of the Women in Engineering Champion Award and
The Presidential Leadership Award for the University of Texas
"Taking Brett Williams’ SystemsGO Aeroscience program while in high
school was the smartest thing I have ever done. The quality of education I
received would be hard to find even at the college level. The fact that the
program was mostly project-based learning allowed me to get experience
with math, science, and communication that I am using in college and will
carry through in my career as an engineer."
Kate Horstman
Graduate: Tulane University, Mechanical Engineering
Employed: Orbital Sciences Corporation
Responsibilities: Senior Systems Engineer,
Ground Based Missile Defense Programs
“SystemsGo (STEM) allowed me the opportunity of a career in aerospace,
something I had previously never considered a possibility. STEM showed me
the possibility, then gave me the contacts and resources to get a job in the
aerospace industry after college. I now work in the missile defense industry
protecting our country. My work is both rewarding and the result of a dream
that was once completely unrealized and yet, a life long passion.”
Lieutenant Jason Smith,
B.S. Aerospace Engineering, United States Naval Academy
Ordinance Officer, newest attach vessel in Atlantic Fleet.
Jake Neu
Patent Attorney - Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP
Rice University, Mechanical Engineering
Law School, Vanderbilt University
“While I always enjoyed math and science, the rocket program was the best program
for taking that interest and make it into a career. The skills I learned through the STEM
Program, such as basic calculation and computer skills, problem solving, collaborative
teamwork, experimental research and testing, and interacting with professional
engineers in real-world settings, provided an invaluable foundation for my studies in
mechanical engineering and law. The program also gave me the confidence to tackle
any issue with the confidence that a practical solution could be found. And most
importantly, it stoked an interest in the operation of the world and the machines we
have made in it, a wonder that has only grown in my current practice as a patent
attorney, where I now have the opportunity to work with today’s scientists, inventors,
and entrepreneurs to take their discoveries and innovations from the lab to the
boardroom.”
Randy Kuhlmann
Electrical Engineering; Texas A&M, Kingsville
Internships: SpaceX, Naval War Lab
“The Systems Go program has inspired me to achieve high goals and to
pursue a dream profession with everlasting determination. As well as,
provided invaluable experience for both my education and the preparation for
the work force. If it were not for this program, I would not be surpassing my
fellow students and becoming a leader of the community.”
First female to pilot nuclear sub
Lauren Carr
U.S. Naval Academy , Mechanical Engineering –
Managing Engineer for windfarm from Louisiana to Illinois.
“The Principles of Technology class (SystemsGo) that I took back in high
school helped provide me the skills and prepare me for the rigors and
demands put upon me at the naval academy. I still apply the problem
solving skills that I learned in high school at my present job.”
Employed with
Department of Defense
as a senior systems
engineer, focusing on
secure information
systems design.
Rick Lang III
Texas A&M - BS in Agricultural Education/Leadership
University of Texas, Master's of Science Information Technology
Infrastructure Assurance/cyber security
“The STEM program at FHS really helped guide me in my education and
provided me with some very valuable skills that I use frequently in my
career. The program helped me to realize that I wanted to do something with
computers for my career because I used them all the time in the FHSAP to
solve the problems we were given. FHSAP also gave me skills that are super
critical in my career field, thinking outside of the box, attention to
detail, and problem solving.”
Cassie Pate with Secretary of
State, John Kerry.
Cassie Pate
Purdue University: BS, Nuclear Engineering
Grad School: International Relations and Diplomacy; Paris, France (OEDC)
“Overall, I'd say the program gave me a good foundation in math and
science, especially since it encouraged me to take AP Physics, and it
definitely helped in problem solving. Presenting at the AIAA conference and
NASA for the grant proposal helped a lot with confidence too. And having to
basically cold call people for donations helped with financing projects later on
for clubs like ANS and our student conference.”
Shaun Pyka
Texas A&M – Civil Engineering
Halliburton - Frac Engineer
“The aeroscience program helped in a lot of ways by teaching me that
anything is possible. There wasn't a rubric for how to accomplish what we
wanted to do or how to do it, but just an end goal. The success or failure
of the project was completely up to us and whether we wanted to make
the extra effort it took to succeed.”
Lieutenant Eric Rode
U.S. Air Force Academy – Pilot Qualified
Career: Transport Pilot, C-130 Transport
Little Rock AFB, Little Rock, AR
John Bergman
Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
Space X internship
Project Engineer within Chevron-Phillips
”The technical concepts that were introduced to me during Mr. Williiams' course
certainly gave me a leg up when entering college classes, but the confidence that
resulted from the skills I attained and the unique experiences I had has served as the
foundation that I am building my career on. Many of these experiences involved
working with strict timelines, coordinating and holding meetings with professionals
outside of school, and figuring out ways to solve problems that we had never dealt
with. Through the entirety of the course Mr. Williams constantly pushed us outside of
our expectations to show us what our real capabilities were, and this principle
motivates me today.”
Logan Lastovica
U.S. Air Force Academy, Astronautical Engineering.
Payload Systems Operator for GPS satellites,
2nd Space Operations Squadron , Schriever AFB, CO.
“The high school aero program contributed greatly to my interest in space
and engineering. More than that, it has given me crucial teamwork and
problem solving skills to succeed in technical environments academically
and in my career.”
Willie Watson
University of Texas at Austin – Mechanical Engineering
Josh Studebaker
Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M
Katie Harvey
Graduate: Embry Riddle, Arizona 2011
Degree: B.S. Aviation Business Administration
Ansel Berber-Thayer
Graduated: Texas A&M, Ocean Engineering
Employed: Ranger Offshore, Inc.
Chelsea Burow
Texas Tech – Electrical Engineering
Richard Hoerster
RPI
James Cade
Samuel Dominquez
Ray Granado
Kyle Kleine
Brad Knopp
Jeremy Pehl
Nick Pyka
Nick Rode
Jason Smith
Jeremy Treibs – Rice?
Dale Wunderlich
1996-1997
Richard Aikman
Jason Burrhus
Shane Harvey
Wacey Holladay
Matthew Ilseng
Phillip Neel – Spec Forc – died
Nick Richter
Travis Shearer
Brock Thiele
Chris Vreeland
Nathan Walker
1997-1998
Justin Deming
Celeste Holland
Ryan Hoover
Adam Kiehne
JP MorinJames Priess
Nicholas Sarbu
Adrienne Simes Phd Ed - tchr
1998-1999
No data
1999-2000
Robert Bohnert
Chris Childs
Chris Dooley
Jason Ferguson – A&M
Houston Haley
Crystal Hollis
Joseph Howell – A&M
Collier Jones
Melissa Jung
Jordan Kaderli
Derek Koger
Brian Kunz – A&M Petro
Bryan Lange
Travis Parker
Eric Morin
Allison Prehn
Kristopher Tatsch
David Thompson
Tera Utley
Charles Vreeland
Joe Walch
Charles Watson
Kiff Wiemers
2000-2001
Scott Adams
Cade Bonn
Johnathan Deming
Heather Dooley
Jill Hanneman
Lauren Itz
Vance Houy
Shelley Klein
Kevin McWithey
Nicole Mechem
Brent Mueller
James Munoz
Dustin Norfolk
Donald Pooser
Reagen Rabke
Blaine Weinheimer
Brandon Weinheimer
2001-2002
Joshua Bryant – TT – Petro
Janiece Crenwelge
Lindsey Land
Chris Pratt
Andrew Seiler
2002-2003
Seth Alexander UT BS biochem 2008
Jason Childs
Charles Grice – ASU
2003-2004
Sayers Arnecke – T tech
Jacob Dishongh
Matt Geistweidt – A&M - CE
Sayer Houseal – A&M
Bryce Klein – A&M
Chris Pratt – Ttech
Brent Schulz
2004-2005
Ruben Aguilar
David Dishongh
Jeffrey Landis – A&M – Geo
Wes Luckenbach
Matt Maple
Gumaro Sanchez – SMU
Chris Sharp
Willie Watson
Kathleen Walch
2005-2006
Wes Compton – TCU – med
Jacop Geistweidt – A&M – CE
Katie Harvey – Embry
Bernardo Lopez
Shaun Pyka – A&M – ME
Efrain Quezada – Kett – EE
Eric Rode – USAFA
Jeffrey Valentine – spec forc
Andrew Vitek
2006-2007
John Bergman
Ryan Butter
Adam Giese
Christie Harper
Josh Klein
Dustin Lehne
Will McCormack
Matthew Morgan
Clayton Smith
2007-2008
Adam Boyd
Jess Dickie
Sarah Dunn
Joshua Durst
Scott Elliott
Aaron Hardin – OSU – Met
Andrew Hill – SMU/TCU?
Griffin Kott
Lindsay Mechem
Joshua Mohon
Cress Netherland – A&M
Jessica Smith
Mark Utley
2008-2009
Ansel Berber-Thayer
2009-2010
Ryan Carrion
Luke Cowsar
Taylor Deike
Phillipe DeLobbe – OSU – Met
R. Craig Hoerster – RPI
Daniel Martinez
Jack Pounds
Dylan Pyka
Randall Springer – Purd – Aero
Marissa Burtwell
Benjamin Evans
Joshua Foeh – Purdue
Jake Geistweidt – A&M – CE
Corbin Grobe
Blake Herber
Ross Moczygemba
Morgan O’Neil
Bradly Ottmers
Deacon Peterson
Clay Wiemers
2010-2011
Lance Beyer
Brandon Boyd
Madeline Burdick
Hunter Casbeer
Dalton Conn
James De Poy
Oscar Giron
Emmett Gold
Travis Hinton
Julia Johnson
Derrick Loth
Michael Renteria
Hailey Welgehausen
2011-2012
Erin Ottmers – TT - ME
Seth Studebaker – MIT ME
Jacob Dittmar – A&M
Hunter Fries – A&M
Sierra Dryer – Embry
Cullen Eckert – A&M
Cole Reynolds
Samual Rogers
2012-2013
Misc
Rachel Andreassean – Rutgers
Demings
Josh Bryant Petro Eng Tt
Deacon Peterson