Budding rocket scientist scores with trip to US Space Academy
AFTER pulling up his socks, a Uitenhage teenager has been awarded with an all-expenses-paid trip to the US Space and Rocket Academy in March.
Matthew Arnold, 17, a Muir College prefect and budding saxophone player, said he was thrilled to be attending the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy hosted at the US Space and Rocket Academy in Alabama.
“I have never been overseas before and I am looking forward to the experience,” he said.
He is one of two South Africans – the other is from Gauteng – taking part in the leadership challenge.
Born in Gauteng, Matthew said he first learnt about the leadership programme while in Grade 8 at Muir College.
“I was too young to apply when I first heard about it because it is only for the 16 to 18 age group,” he said, adding that in Grade 9 and Grade 10 he did not perform well enough to apply.
“Once I got my performance up at school in Grade 11 I applied in September with the previous term’s results,” he said.
As part of the stringent selection process, Matthew was required to submit a number of essays detailing what he hoped to achieve by attending the academy as well as detail his leadership positions at school.
Matthew has been involved in the wildlife society, the scripture union society and the blood donor course at Muir College.
The aspiring engineer said he enjoys maths and science most and hopes these subjects will help him while at the academy where he will learn more about leadership positions and challenges in the field of space technology and astronomy.
“The leadership camp will test us in different leadership positions,” he said.
Matthew said he hoped the experience would make him a better leader at Muir College.
“There will be a few students from the University of Alabama to teach us about rocket technology, which I really enjoy,” he said.
Matthew intends studying engineering at the University of Cape Town or University of Pretoria before specialising in Astrological Engineering.
Muir College headmaster Robin Stephenson said he was proud of Matthew for taking on the opportunity.
“He is an inspiration to the other boys. He must be quite brave. It says a lot about him to step out of his comfort zone,” said Stephenson.
Matthew leaves for America on March 3 and will return on March 10.
The Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy provides science-oriented workshops, lectures and team exercises for the participants to develop their leadership skills. — TMG