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By Melanie Crowson
Chapter President, SEDS
In November, the university chapter of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) attended SpaceVision 2018 in San Diego, California, the national conference of SEDS chapters. During the conference, the chapter received three awards from SEDS USA, the host of the event.
APUS SEDS Chapter VP Receives Jeff Bezos Award for Chapter Leadership
APUS SEDS Chapter Vice President Matt Getridge received an award for exemplary service to the leadership team. He ensured timely and smooth chapter communication and inventive project ideas, partnering with me, the chapter president, to complete each step of projects on time and taking on the additional role of chapter secretary.
Although Matt experienced family difficulties that could have permanently taken him away from SEDS, he displayed caring dedication to each and every student member. Even as an alumnus, Matt was available to assist the chapter throughout 2018 with his advice and helping hand.
APUS SEDS Chapter Given Best Outreach Project Award
The APUS chapter also won the annual award for best outreach project across SEDS USA’s more than 100 chapters. The chapter brought telescopes to the private Saddlebrook Charter High School on the west coast of Florida and shared the night sky with students on Galileo’s 454th birthday. The event included a themed birthday cake, and presentation on the Italian mathematician and astronomer’s life and work.
SEDS USA recognized that this unique event brought much attention to the STEM field and continued the legacy of Galileo by keeping astronomy alive.
Other Award: Best Diversity among Majors
The academic diversity of the university’s 400-member SEDS chapter was recognized as having the broadest diversity among student majors. The academic programs that chapter members are pursuing include English, psychology, information technology and space studies, to name a few.
Chapter members shared their excitement and spread the word on the importance of space exploration. Each chapter member reached out to other students, helping to grow the SEDS chapter into one of the largest student organizations at APUS and in SEDS USA.
Are you interested in joining SEDS? Complete an application today.
About the Author
Melanie Crowson is now the Vice Chair of SEDS USA and has been the 2018 president of the SEDS chapter at American Public University System. She is currently seeking a master’s degree in space studies/astronomy. Melanie has also been a mathematics tutor and a planetarium presenter at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, Florida and is currently doing research on RR Lyrae variable stars with Professor Dave Syndergaard.
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