Friendswood robotics team ThunderBolts in Disguise placed second in the FIRST Tech Houston South East League Tournament Feb. 19 at Pearland Junior High West.
The team of 10 homeschool students from the Friendswood, League City, Pearland and Pasadena area picked up multiple accolades at the competition, including the Inspire Award, Think Award and Winning Alliance First Pick.
The win earned the team a berth in the Texas-Houston Regional Championship at San Jacinto College. Learn more at www.facebook.com/tbd18140robotics.
UHCL grad: Internship launched engineering career
Mitchell Jefferies couldn’t have gone from intern to full-time avionics engineer at Intuitive Machines without the guidance and support received from his professors in the computer engineering program at University of Houston-Clear Lake, he said recently.
“I started here as an intern in spring 2019, taking advantage of an option I had at UH-Clear Lake. I could do an internship that counted as elective credit toward my degree,” he said. “I got another paid internship, and afterwards I graduated in the summer. Then I started full time at Intuitive Machines. One of my robotics professors told me about the opportunity.”
Jefferies, who received a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering in 2019, said he chose UHCL because he preferred the smaller class sizes and the chance to develop relationships with his professors.
He said he plans to continue working as an avionics engineer, acquiring skills and experience on the job.
“There are a lot of senior-level NASA engineers here, and I’m learning from them, and I just want to keep developing,” he said. “I feel that my education at UHCL prepared me very well to be here.”
Learn more at www.uhcl.edu.
UTMB center named Texas Partner for Change
The Texas Council on Family Violence recently selected the Center for Violence Prevention at University of Texas Medical Branch as winner of its 2022 Texas Partner for Change award.
“We are especially grateful that prevention science and our prevention work are being recognized,” said Dr. Jeff Temple, center director. “Prevention is not ‘sexy’ and not politically expedient, but it is the most efficient and cost-effective method to improving the lives and well-being of all citizens.”
Find details at www.utmb.edu/cvp.
Honor society recognizes San Jac provost
Aaron Knight, San Jacinto College South Campus provost, recently received Phi Theta Kappa honor society’s Paragon Award.
The award recognizes college leaders who have shown support of student success initiatives. Honorees must be new to their role — having served less than three years — and nominated by students. Twenty recipients were selected from 426 college presidents, chancellors and CEOs.
“This is a great honor,” Knight said. “PTK students are the leaders of tomorrow, and their commitment to excellence is inspiring. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with our chapter sponsors, Elizabeth McKinley and Lambrini Nicopoulos, and all who support this fine organization.”
Knight became the South Campus provost in July 2020. He began his career as an assistant professor of political science at Texas A&M International University and spent the 20 years prior to coming to San Jacinto College at Houston Community College.
“We nominated Dr. Knight as he has been a huge supporter for our PTK chapter and has helped our chapter in our projects, in particular our college project and our Honors in Action project,” McKinley said.
Knight will receive his award at the PTK annual convention April 7-9 in Denver. Co-advisor Nicopoulos will be honored as a distinguished adviser as well.
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