Return to School Update July 30, 2020

The communication below was emailed to staff and parents today:

 

 

July 30, 2020

 

Dear P-H-M Families, 

 

We have been communicating regularly with medical professionals at the St. Joseph County Department of Health (SJCDH) and receiving guidance regarding the status of coronavirus activity and community transmission in making decisions regarding the safest model for curriculum delivery. The current thresholds for consideration by SJCDH strongly recommend that St. Joseph County Schools open in a virtual learning environment.

 

They also provided guidance on extracurricular and co-curricular activities. Those programs are being monitored and are under review.

 

The administration will recommend to the P-H-M Board of School Trustees at a School Board meeting on August 3, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. that all students participate in a virtual learning environment from the first day of school, August 19 through October 22. During the established virtual learning period, we will continue to collaborate with the SJCDH regarding further discussions and recommendations.

 

Prior to October 22, and the decision to return students to in-person instruction, we will ask parents which option they will be choosing by providing a parent survey. Parents will not be bound by their previous choice.

 

When we return, we will continue to offer two options: in-person or virtual instruction. 

 

  • On October 27 (or when the SJCDH deems it appropriate) students who are enrolled in the in-person program will return to school.

  • On October 27 students who are enrolled in the virtual learning program will continue with virtual learning.

 

Established metrics, provided by the SJCDH, will determine when it is safe to return to in-person learning. Families will be given a two week notice of any changes to return to in-person learning.

 

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. 

 

Please stay safe and healthy!

 

 

Dr. Jerry Thacker

Superintendent

 

 

Return to School Update July 21, 2020

The communication below was emailed to staff and parents today:

 

July 21, 2020

 

Good Afternoon.

 

At last evening’s Board of School Trustees meeting, we shared additional information on the district’s overview on safety, the learning environment, and procedures for our return to learn in the fall. 

 

Our focus is to provide you and your student(s) with an excellent education in a safe, supportive, and positive learning environment. In order to achieve at the highest levels, we must continue to work toward our goal, doing what is best for our students, staff, and families. Our Triangle of Success supports our vision of Excellence in Education, and you are an important part of our Triangle.

 

In today’s communication, I share with you several guiding documents:

 

I hope that this information is helpful to you in making your decision on whether your student(s) will attend school in person or virtually. We are providing the link for the parent survey here and ask that you please complete it by July 27.

 

We will continue to collaborate with our parents, staff, and state and local health partners as we work to provide a safe and positive learning environment for our students. Thank you for your continued support.

 

Stay healthy and safe!

 

Dr. Jerry Thacker

Superintendent of Schools

 

 

Return to School Update July 17, 2020

The communication below was emailed to staff and parents today:

 

Friday, July 17, 2020

 

Dear P-H-M Families,

 

As we continue to develop our school specific plans, we would like to share an update with you. We continue to receive great questions and feedback from our families that have assisted us in developing a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). The FAQ has been posted to our Return to Learn page

 

Answers to the two most frequently asked questions:

 

  • Per the St. Joseph County Health Department Public Health Order, staff and students are required to wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth and social distancing will be maintained when possible.
  • Students and staff who test positive will quarantine for at least 10 days from the date symptoms began AND remain fever-free for 72 hours (without use of fever reducing medication) before returning to school. Click here for the Indiana State Department of Health guide for parents related to student screening and quarantine/isolation guidelines. 

 

Penn High School Information

 

Previously, I shared with you about the two different options that parents can choose to have their students educated this fall.  However, based on stakeholder feedback, students at Penn High School specifically will have additional virtual options to choose from.  Principal Sean Galiher will share a separate survey with Penn High School families today and we ask that families complete that survey by July 24th.  

 

Next week, we will also share each school's specific Return to Learn plan. This communication will outline school specific details including arrival procedures, the learning environment, lunch, school dismissal, as well as other important information.

 

PHM will ensure the guiding focus remains on the health and education of our community and we will continue to follow state and local guidance as we evaluate COVID-19 and our return to learning. 

 

Stay healthy and well,

Dr. Jerry Thacker, Superintendent
Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation

 

 

Return to School Update July 10, 2020

The communication below was emailed to staff and parents today:

 

Friday, July 10, 2020

 

Dear P-H-M Families,

 

I recently sent you information on our plan to Return to School and a survey regarding choices between Face-to-Face Learning and Virtual Learning. Thank you for your valuable feedback. Based on the responses that you provided, we are making positive changes to some of our Education Options, primarily Virtual Learning at the secondary level. Since we want to share those modifications late next week, we are extending the timeline to complete the survey to July 27.

 

Before you receive more comprehensive information, here is a list of answers to the most frequently asked questions.

  • Per the St. Joseph County Health Department Public Health Order, staff and students are required to wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth whenever social distancing cannot be maintained. Click here for the Indiana Department of Education Back to School Face Covering Guidance for Families.
  • Students and staff who test positive will quarantine for at least 10 days from the date symptoms began AND remain fever-free for 72 hours (without use of fever reducing medication) before returning to school. Click here for the Indiana State Department of Health guide for parents related to student screening and quarantine/isolation guidelines.
  • Virtual students may participate in available Honors, Dual Credit and AP classes. Additional information will be shared next week.
  • Virtual students may participate in extracurricular activities.
  • Virtual teachers will differentiate for high ability students.
  • Virtual students may participate in available electives.
  • Students may continue to bring lunch with them to school.
  • We are asking parents to make a semester commitment when choosing face to face or virtual instruction.

 

We will also share more comprehensive information on school safety protocols, individual school plans, and an FAQ document to keep you updated.

 

We will continue to follow state and local guidance and if the number of cases of COVID-19 reaches a level where local and state officials determine that school cannot meet in person, eLearning would resume. This would be similar to last spring with some improvements based on the parent feedback we received. We tested some new educational models during online summer school and feel confident that if we have to return to eLearning, we can continue to provide a quality education while also offering social emotional support.

 

Stay healthy and well,

Dr. Jerry Thacker, Superintendent
Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation

Return to School Update July 02, 2020

The communication below was emailed to staff and parents today:

 

Thursday, July 2, 2020

 

Dear P-H-M Families,

 

I know that you have been anxiously waiting for the details on our plan to return to school on Wednesday, August 19 (for grades 1-12) and August 20 (kindergarten).

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives. There have been many changes in our daily lives making things our new normal, at least for a while. This also means that the procedures in our school buildings must also change to ensure the highest health and safety guidelines. Working in concert with the St. Joseph County Health Department and following the guidance and recommendations by the CDC, Indiana State Department of Health, Governor’s Office, and the IDOE we have developed a re-entry plan for Penn-Harris-Madison Schools.

 

EDUCATION OPTIONS

 

While we believe that the most effective instruction for your child happens in a classroom Face to Face with our highly qualified teachers, there will be an online Virtual option available for those who elect not to attend in-person.

 

Click the two links below to read more about the two different options that parents can choose between to have their students educated this fall:

 

  1. Face to Face LearningThis plan also details how Transportation, Food Service, Recess, Cleaning, Extracurricular Activities will be handled in our facilities.
  2.  

  3. VirtualThis plan breaks down how online learning will take place at the three grade levels (elementary, middle and high school).
  4.  

  5. WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE? To help us plan for the Fall, we are asking parents to complete a survey with their choice for instruction for the upcoming school year.​ Please complete this survey by Monday, July 13.

 

As we communicated Tuesday of this week, we will follow our 2020-2021 school year calendar and these health and safety guidelines:

 

  • Per the St. Joseph County Health Department Public Health Order, staff and students are required to have a mask (face covering) with them at all times. There will be times indoors or in enclosed spaces that 6 feet of physical distance cannot be maintained.
  • Students and staff will be required to be fever free for 72 hours without use of fever reducing medication before returning to school.
  • To maintain safe social distancing, lunch times will be staggered and available open space will be maximized.
  • Restrict visitors and guests in our school buildings.
  • Maximize instructional space and scheduling flexibility.
  • Employee enhanced cleaning procedures with additional hand sanitizer stations.
  • Identify and separate space in school clinics to treat symptomatic students.
  • Discontinuation of perfect attendance incentives for the 2020-21 school year.

 

For more detailed information on the procedures for masks, social, distancing, cleaning, etc. on P-H-M buses and within our schools, please click here to review the Face to Face Return to Learn model.

 

We understand that these documents can’t answer every question about re-opening, however, we hope it gives you the framework necessary to make the best decision for your family, whether that’s  returning to school, or online learning. Individualized school plans are being created and will be communicated to families and posted on school websites on August 1st. If you have additional questions in the meantime, please email returntolearn@phm.k12.in.us.

 

If the number of cases of COVID-19 reaches a level where local and state officials determine that school cannot meet in person, eLearning will resume and would be similar to what it was last spring with some improvements based on the parental feedback we received. We tested some new education models over the summer with online summer school and feel confident that if we have to return to eLearning that we can continue to provide a quality education while also offering social emotional supports.

 

Sincerely,

Dr. Jerry Thacker, Superintendent
Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation

Conversation with students about racial injustice

This letter was sent to P-H-M staff and parents:

 

Thursday, June 25, 2020

 

This morning members of Penn-Harris-Madison and Penn High School administration met with current Penn students and alumni about the state of race relations not only at Penn, but throughout P-H-M. Last Tuesday, June 16, Penn alumni and current students started a petition and shared an open letter to bring to our attention the hurtful incidents of racism that have occurred to students during their time with us. The group brought forward a list of action items and a timeline that they’d like for the School Corporation to follow in order to bring about change. We will be meeting in July to collaborate with current students and alumni to begin implementation of some of the action items. 

 

Today, we listened and we apologized to the group. I am taking the time now to also apologize to our greater P-H-M community and to say we must and will do better. 

 

As I stated in my letter to P-H-M parents last Friday, June 19, “The Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees, District Administration, teachers and staff are proud to be educators. It is a call to service, and we don’t take our role of helping to form future citizens of our community, country, and the world lightly.” 

 

After listening to the students today, we know that our role as educators is more than to just teach basic academics. We must also teach and model for our students what it means to treat others as we would want to be treated. This means we cannot only not tolerate acts of bigotry and complicity, but we must be actively anti-racist. We must always be cognizant, aware and ever vigilant. This must not only be an expectation for ourselves, but also for all of our students.

 

Today was just the first step in a self-examination and reflection of ourselves as a school corporation, both in what we’ve done and failed to do. We pride ourselves in providing excellence in education, but excellence does not happen here if even one of our students feels pain and indignity. This conversation and journey to change the culture in our schools is just the beginning. Valuing and celebrating diversity is a tenet of P-H-M’s “Vision of Excellence” I’ve spoken of many times. We are committed to implementing reforms necessary to end racism and racial discrimination to create a positive, healthy learning environment for all students. We look forward to working with all of you!

 

Dr. Jerry Thacker, Superintendent
Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation

P-H-M 2020 Retirees & Service Award Winners

The Coronavirus pandemic canceled many of our in-person celebrations, not only for students, but also for staff. One of our annual events is the Employee Recognition Dinner where we honor our retirees and recognize our employees who’ve worked for Penn-Harris-Madison 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15 and 10 years. Please see the list below of the 2020 Retirees, followed by the list of Service Award Winners of current P-H-M employees:

2020 Honored Retirees

  • Evelyn Allison – Transportation
  • Frank Anglin – Administrator
  • Rhonda Arndt – Transportation
  • Sandra Badur – Counselor
  • Mary Ann Bogucki – Teacher
  • Caroline Brill – Administrator
  • Robin Cahall – Auxiliary 
  • Barb Colborn – ESP 
  • Cheryl Cyman  – Transportation
  • Lucia Davis – ESP 
  • Megan Decker – Teacher
  • Tressa Decker – Administrator
  • Suzette Doolittle – Teacher
  • Darlene Evans – Custodian
  • Christine Fisher – Teacher 
  • Lisa Foster – Teacher 
  • Elnora Freeman – ESP
  • Shannon Gray – Teacher 
  • Lori Heise – Teacher 
  • Randal Hogue – Teacher
  • Donna Humes – Administrator
  • Pam Hunsberger – ESP 
  • Joy Johnson – Teacher
  • Timothy Kalavity – Maintenance
  • Dawn Koenig – Food Service
  • Robert Lovett – Administrator
  • Kathy Minix – Transportation
  • Garold Naragon – Custodian
  • Rodney Perry – Maintenance
  • Pam Peters – Transportation
  • Mila Pierce – ESP 
  • Laura Pride – ESP 
  • Bruce Quick – Custodian
  • Kathleen Satkoski – Teacher
  • Sherry Sill – Teacher 
  • Mike Stephens – Custodian
  • Pam Stockbridge – Food Service
  • Rebecca Tagliaferri – Teacher
  • Deborah VanPoppel – ESP
  • Patricia Walton – Teacher 
  • Judy Watson – ESP 
  • Virginia Wery – ESP  
  • Rhonda Williams – Teacher
  • Diane Wirth – Administrator
  • Susan Wozniak – Auxiliary  

 

Service Award Winners of current P-H-M employees

40 Years of Service 

  • Greg Dikos 

 

35 Years of Service

  • Lisa Foster 
  • Peggy Orosz 
  • Kim Rice 
  • Annette Wisler 
  • Cory Yeoman 
  • Sheila Toth 

 

30 Years of Service

  • Chisty Cook 
  • Jennifer Crist 
  • Peter DeKever 
  • James Kominkiewicz
  • David Manspeaker
  • David Metcalf 
  • Thomas E. Miller (Teacher)
  • Julie Ohlson 
  • Melinda O’Malley 
  • Judy Scarbeck 
  • Wendy Schuster 
  • Keely Twibell 
  • P. Deb Woodlee

 

25 Years of Service

  • Steven Beery 
  • Gloria Brown 
  • Mark Burns, Jr.
  • Michelle Crawford
  • Elizabeth Dix 
  • Melissa Grover 
  • Vivian Haney 
  • Roger Hansel 
  • Mary Beth Hollinger
  • Andrew Horein 
  • Erin Horvath 
  • Kristina Hursh 
  • Jim Langfeldt 
  • Kevin McMillen
  • Therese Mellor
  • Roseann Morehouse
  • Regina Mow 
  • Lavon Oke 
  • Tamara Portolese
  • James Schmidt 
  • Murray Weaver 
  • Jon West 
  • Carol Whittaker
  • Rhonda Williams 
  • Tami Wisniewski 

 

20 Years of Service

  • Kathy Butterworth
  • Jennifer Dakins
  • Betsy Faulkenburg
  • Cynthia Gearhart
  • Wendy Hayes
  • Maryellyn Knight
  • James Mester
  • Karen Miller
  • Rachelle Morris
  • Dorothy Mroczek
  • Cheryl Nellis
  • Patricia Roby
  • Kathleen Sharkey
  • Eileen Shingledecker
  • Cathy Smith 
  • Vickie Stickel
  • Melanie Stock
  • Scott Vandygriff
  • Barbara Zuidema

 

15 Years of Service

  • Mary Carpenter
  • Lisa Dallich
  • Judy Donati
  • Johanna Gregory
  • Lynn Hill 
  • Melissa Laidig
  • Robin Maden 
  • Lisa Milliner 
  • Rina Parikh
  • Jennifer Payne
  • Jennifer Sears
  • Jenna Tomaszewski

 

10 Years of Service

  • Angela Allen 
  • Paula Ellsworth
  • Kathryn French
  • Renee George 
  • Lori Jaworski
  • Crystal Keigley
  • Susan Mater 
  • Alicia Sullivan
  • Jennifer Tebell
  • Elyse Toth 
  • Marisa VanDeventer
  • Ginger Whedon​ 

How to watch the 2020 Virtual Commencement

How to watch the Virtual Commencement

We are excited to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of Penn High School’s Class of 2020 in the Sixty First Commencement to be held online on Friday, May 29 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. You can tune in as early as 6:30 p.m. to watch a picture slide show of seniors with their yard signs and picking up their caps and gowns (please note every senior may not be pictured; this was created with pictures that either we took or shared with us)Click here to download and view a PDF copy of the program booklet. Click to learn more about the great achievements by this year’s graduating class.

 

To watch this live event, make sure to tune to P-H-M District Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/phmschools or P-H-M District YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/pennharrismadison

*Please note these are PHM District social media pages, not Penn High School’s

**You do not have to have a Facebook or YouTube account to tune in watch. However if you would like to post congratulatory messages or pictures of your graduate in the live comments, you will have to have an account on that social media platform.

 

We invite graduates to wear their cap and gown while they watch the live feed of the Virtual Commencement with their family and loved ones. As you watch, we invite family and friends to post congratulatory messages in the live comments & post a picture of your senior in their cap & gown using the hashtag #​Kingsmen2020 to help us collect and see all your pictures (pictures can only be posted in comments on Facebook).

 

If you plan on on watching the Virtual Commencement on P-H-M District YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/pennharrismadison) follow the directions below for the device you will be using to watch the broadcast on YouTube:

  1.  Laptop/computer: Please make sure to change your quality settings to view the program in 1080pHD. Look at the screengrab instructions below to change your settings …

1080p laptop/computer instructions

  1.  via app on a Smart TV: If you are going to be watching the program through the YouTube app on your Smart TV, follow the screengrab instructions below to go into your settings and change it to 1080pHD …

1080p Smart TV instructions

  1. via app on a Smartphone: The quality setting may default to 480p. Some smartphones will automatically change the setting to 1080p the longer the video plays. However if you notice that the lip sync seems to be off, follow the screengrab instructions below to go into your settings and change it to 1080pHD …
     

1080 mobile instructions

Penn Girls Basketball Coach Kristi Ulrich named to “Forty Under 40”

Penn High School’s Girls Basketball Coach Kristi Ulrich was named among this year’s recipients selected to the 2020 Michiana “Forty under 40” class. The announcement by the South Bend Regional Chamber, in collaboration with the Young Professionals Network (YPN) South Bend, was made yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, May 26).

 

The Michiana Forty under 40 program recognizes young adults, professionals, executives and leaders, under the age of 40 (on May 15), achieving outstanding professional success while also engaging in his/her community through charitable and civic involvement.

 

Coach Ulrich is a phenomenal teacher and coach. She has been with Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation for approximately 12 years. She leads her student-athletes with integrity and brings value and success to the Penn High School Athletic program, enriching the lives of hundreds of her students.

 

Coach Ulrich’s highlights of excellence include:

  • Overall Coaching record 256-32 .889% win percentage in 11 seasons (highest % in the State of Indiana for active Girls Coaches)
  • All-time winningest coach for Penn High School Girls Basketball – 256 wins
  • NIC Record 105-3 in 11 seasons

  • 1 State Championship

  • 3 Semi-State Championships

  • 6 Regional Championships

  • 9 Sectional Championships

  • 9 NIC Championships

  • 23 Different Players Selected to All-Conference Teams (multiple players selected more than one time)

  • 3 Conference MVP’s (1 2x in a row)

  • 4 Indiana All-Stars

  • Produced 22 Collegiate Basketball Players

 

Off the court, she leads her players in community service projects such as the Penn Girls Basketball Adopt a Family for Christmas. She also runs community basketball camps and fall leagues for K-8 students in the district.

 

“Coach Ulrich’s leadership and commitment is truly inspiring,” said P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jery Thacker.

 

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's honorees with a Celebration Video, rather than present a luncheon. The video will premiere on June 26 on the michiana40.com, South Bend Regional Chamber, and YPN South Bend websites. The South Bend Tribune will also feature a special Michiana Forty under 40 section in their June 28 issue.

Kingsmen Making A Difference: Penn alum working for SpaceX

Tomorrow (Wednesday, May 27) at 4:33 p.m. EDT the next stage of the United States space program will blast off, in a small part due to the engineering efforts of a 1997 Penn High School alum!

Jon Edwards is a “Kingsmen Making a Difference” in the world of aerospace engineering and space travel as the working for SpaceX as the Vice President of Falcon Launch Vehicles. SpaceX is only one of two commercial companies (Boeing being the other) NASA contracted with to build private “space taxis” to fly its astronauts to and from the International Space Station. The goal of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is a turning point for America’s future in space exploration that lays the groundwork for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.”

Jon on the console
Jon (in blue shirt) on the console of a Falcon launch

The Falcon 9 rocket will launch late Wednesday afternoon from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, FL (rain days are Saturday, May 30 at 3:22 p.m. EDT, and Sunday, May 31 at 3:00 p.m. EDT) carrying NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley on board the Dragon spacecraft. The Demo-2 mission is the “final major test for SpaceX’s human spaceflight system to be certified by NASA for operational crew missions to and from the International Space Station.” Coverage for the historic launch will begin about 4 hours before liftoff. Click the links for more information on watching the launch LIVE on NASA TV and to participate in the events virtually. There are lots of educational components for students.

Jon was promoted to Vice President of Falcon Launch Vehicles in February of this year. Last July, we reached out to Jon via email to ask him about his role at that time in this historic space mission and joint project with NASA. At the time of the interview, Jon was the Senior Director of Falcon Engineering and Falcon Product Director. He described his role then as leading a team of 100 engineers in the development and operation of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles. He stated then that he was “responsible for all Falcon related development projects during all phases of the vehicle life cycle including: design, development, qualification, and operation.” SpaceX.com describes the Falcon rocket as a “reusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond. Falcon 9 is the world’s first orbital class reusable rocket.” Throughout the course of SpaceX’s development and testing of the Falcon 9 rocket, the Penn grad provided briefs and updates to SpaceX CEO/CTO Elon Musk and President Gwynne Shotwell. Jon also works closely with SpaceX’s commercial and government customers including the United States Air Force and NASA.

We asked Jon about his time as a Penn High School student. Obviously his favorite subject was Physics, but we were also curious as and asked him … Who was your favorite Penn teacher and how did they influence you?
“My absolute most favorite teacher ever was Mr. Jim McPhee. He was my AP Physics I and II teacher back in ’96 and ’97. Mr. McPhee was fantastic at getting the class excited about the way the universe works. He would often start the class by beginning to discuss the normally scheduled topic, but if the class asked a question that took the discussion in a different direction, he was more than happy to spend the rest of the class exploring the tangential topic. We used to explore questions such as ‘what would happen if you jumped into a tunnel that went all the way through the earth?’ and even dove into discussions about astrophysics and electromagnetism. The discussions we had in class were so exciting to me I would often read ahead in my physics book and seek out other physics media such as Carl Sagan’s Cosmos documentaries and Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time. There is no doubt that Mr. McPhee inspired me to pursue a career in aerospace. I even think about becoming a high school physics teacher someday in the hopes that I might inspire kids in the same way.”

After Jon graduated from Penn in 1997, he attended Purdue University’s School of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 2001, and later a Master of Science degree in 2004. Jon also earned his MBA from Kelly School of Business at Indiana University in 2012.

Jon started at SpaceX in 2004. His career highlights over the years at SpaceX include:

  • Lead Engineer for the Kestrel rocket engine and Responsible Engineer for the Falcon 1 2nd Stage (2004-2009)
    • Falcon 1 became the first ever privately funded liquid fueled rocket to achieve earth orbit in September 2008
  • Responsible Engineer for the Falcon 9 2nd Stage (2009-2010)
    • Falcon 9 successfully reached orbit on its first launch attempt in June 2010
  • Promoted to Manager of Falcon 9 Propulsion Systems Engineering (August 2010)
  • Promoted to Director of Falcon 9 Propulsion Systems Engineering (May 2013)
  • Promoted to Falcon Product Director (May 2014)
    • The Falcon 9 1st stage booster successfully landed after performing an orbital launch on December 22, 2015; the first time an orbital class rocket has ever successfully landed propulsively (with propulsion force) 
  • Promoted to Senior Director of Falcon Engineering (January 2016)
    • Successful reflight of recovered Falcon 9 booster on March 30, 2017, proving orbital class rocket reusability.
    • Successful inaugural launch of the Falcon Heavy in February 2018. Falcon Heavy is the most powerful rocket in operation today. 
  • Promoted to Vice President of Falcon Launch Vehicles (February 2020)
Falcon 1 Flight 4 - first successful mission
Falcon 1 Flight 4 – first successful mission (September 2008)

Jon received the Purdue Outstanding Aerospace Engineer award in April 2017–the school’s highest honor to recognize the school’s most distinguished alumni!

Jon Edwards is not the only Penn graduate involved in our nation’s efforts to return humankind to space. Last summer during the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch, we told you about 2010 alumna Sadie Holbert–a government contractor for Leidos working as a flight controller in mission control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.  Sadie, also a 2015 graduate of Purdue University, is involved in NASA’s “Explore Moon to Mars” missions that will send humans back to the moon. 

Sadie is on the Guidance, Navigation, and Control team for the first Orion mission. The Orion capsule will fly out around the moon and back, testing the vehicle before NASA flies humans on the capsule for deep-space missions to mars and possibly beyond. The project was delayed because of COVID-19 and is now projected for November 2021, with the goal of flying astronauts around the moon on the second SLS/Orion flight in late 2022 or early 2023. Click to read the full “Kingsmen Making a Difference” profile on Sadie Holbert here.