Team Members 2006-2007

The Cadet Team

Our SLI Core Team will consist mainly of 5 students, one teacher and our mentor. We have the support and services of the entire district and community to help us.

Andrew

Andrew, is the project manager and safety officer. He has been involved in student council, Future Problem Solvers, State Future Problem Solvers, the Quiz Bowl, and student government. The science-related classes he has taken previously are biology, and physical science. and physical science. He is starting his junior year at Mount Michael, and taking physics, chemistry, and pre-calculus.
He has been involved in many rocketry-related projects, including: Team America Rocketry Challenge 2004, TARC 2005 Finals, TARC 2006 3rd place finalist, and was a member of Nebraska’s 1/5th scale Delta III Rocket Project Team in 2005 (www.insaneprojects.com). He also participated in the national launches of LDRS 22 and 24. He is a member of THOR (The Heartland Organization of Rocketry).
His community involvement includes volunteer work at his church’s local camp each summer. He also helps with the local 4th of July fireworks show. He has been a 4-H member and taught a cub-scout rocketry class in 2004. The past 9 years he has been a member of the local swim team and the area YMCA Swim Team. The past 2 years he has gone to the Cosmosphere Space Camp and will continue to Level 3 in 2007. He is excited to be involved in the Student Launch Initiative, so he can learn more about the real world of aerospace engineering, his career goal.

Shawn

Shawn will serve as our website design / propulsion and recovery team member. He is a member of the 2006 TARC team that placed 3rd in the national finals. He helped construct the rocket and supervised the payload. He is a member of the varsity golf team and the summer swim team. He enjoys anything that has to do with programming and assembly of robotics. He is currently enrolled in chemistry. He is president of the Saint Paul Lutheran Church’s Youth Group.

Tessa

Tessa, is involved in many school activities. She has participated in One-Act, Musical, Swing Choir, and Speech. She has been a member of FCCLA and Student Council. She has been in Cross Country and Basketball. She is a member of the high school dance team and NPPD Power Drive. Her science and math classes include physics, chemistry, and trig/calc.
She has served her community by doing community service and being part of a local youth group. She is a veteran member of last year’s TARC team that placed third in the nation. For SLI, Tessa will be responsible for Publicity and Outreach.

Olivia

Olivia is the team's documenter as well as the finance and budget controller. She is the captain of the cross country team, as well as a participant in basketball and track. She is active in Musical, One-Act, and Speech and has received recognition in all three. More of her school activities include NPPD Power Drive, Student Council, and FCCLA. She is the FCCLA State Peer Coordinator, as well as the Student Body Peer Team Chairperson. She also writes and takes photographs for the school newspaper and yearbook committee. Her interest in science and math has resulted in classes of Physics, Chemistry, and Trig/Calc.

Cole

Cole, was one of the four members of the rocket team that placed third at the Team America Rocketry Challenge in 2006. Other extracurricular activities he is involved in include Football, Basketball, Track and Field, American Legion Baseball, and Quiz Bowl. Cole has been a three-sport letter winner and is currently captain of the varsity football team. In his spare time Cole loves to fly his small, single engine aircraft. He is certified by the FAA as a Private Pilot. The pilot rating should help him in his aspirations of becoming an Air Force Pilot. He is currently in the application process for appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Cole is the team's payload specialist.

Mr. Sherwood

Jim Sherwood is the Lead Educator for this project. He is in his 28th year of teaching. For 24 years he was the entire science department for Beemer Public School. Jim currently teaches Physics, Chemistry, Earth Science, and a DC Physical science at West Point-Beemer Jr. Sr. High School. He earned his Bachelors of Science degree from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, and has over 45 graduate hours in the sciences to cover his varied teaching load. He is also endorsed to teach Information Technology. Jim has been a Future Problem Solving coach, with 10 Nebraska State qualifying teams.
His outside school interests have included Boy Scouts of America where he was a Webelos and Troop leader, a contingent troop leader for two National Jamborees, a district new leader trainer, and a recipient of the District Award of Merit, and Council Silver Beaver. Jim also volunteers with Special Olympics. Wood working and caring for his grandson round out his time. Rocketry is a new field for Jim, and he is very excited to be able to work with this talented team to bring him up to speed on the fun.