Astronaut’s
Life
Continued from Page 1
problems associated with
moment-to-moment blood pres
sure which leads to orthostatic
intolerance,
This forces an inadequate
amount of blood to rush into the
brain, he said.
Pawelczyk received a bachelor
of arts degree in Biology and psy
chology from the University of
Rochester in 1982, and then
earned his masters degree in phys
iology from Penn State in 1995.
He then completed a post-doc
toral fellowship at the University
of Texas Southwestern Medical
Center at Dallas in 1992. In
1995, he returned to Penn State
as a professor of physiology and
kinesiology.
Pawelczyk explained that 15
years of research couldn't replace
the unique thrill before and after
lift off.
"Crew members are really
unsung heroes because there is so
much training and procedural
planning involved to ensure a
good flight," he said, adding that
ctew members endure a rigorous
three hour per day weight training
and flight simulation regimen.
"I think that space flight is the
most humbing experience you
can have," Pawelczyk said.
He said the most enthralling
part of his flight was not discov
ered through the many hours of
research, but rather in viewing the
earth from two million miles away.
"I've never seen a more beau
tiful site in my whole life."
Pawelczyk said setting career
goals early enabled him to truly
reach for the stars. After playing
a videotape of his ascent into
space, he left students with some
valuable advice.
"Don't just imagine the possi
blities work towards them and
never lose site of them,"
Pawelczyk said.
Dr. James A. Pawelczyk
Five former SGA presidents reunited Oct. 2 to hear Dr. James A.
Pawelczyk. Left to right: Todd Deßoard, Duane Brooks, Andrew Hilt,
Peter Mekosh, current president Roderick Lee, and Michael Sheldon.
Former SGA
Presidents Visit PSH
On Oct. 2, five former Student
Government Association (SGA)
presidents along with current stu
dent leaders met at the Olive La
Grone Cultural Arts Center to
hear Dr. James Pawelczyk discuss
leadership and the space program.
The Penn State Alumni
Association invited the former
SGA presidents back to the cam
pus for the lecture. Afterward the
seminar, the current and past stu
dent leaders attended a luncheon
at The Gallery Lounge where
they had a chance to mingle with
Dr. Pawelczyk and each other.
The five past SGA presidents
who attended the lecture were:
Duane Brooks, 1995-96; Todd
Deßoard, 1993-94; Andrew Hilt,
1990-91; Peter Mekosh, 1984-85;
and Michael Sheldon, 1980-81.
Brooks now works as a sys
tems analyst with Southern LINC
and lives in Atlanta. His experi
ence with SGA has been very
beneficial to him professionally.
He is a project leader and his
boss selected him because of his
teamwork and leadership skills
which he fine tuned as president of
SGA.
Brooks encourages students to
get involved on campus. “I think
getting involved is the best thing
to do,” said Brooks. “I strongly
encourage everyone to get
involved.”
Brooks enjoyed the PSH expe
rience so much he is contemplat
ing. coming back to his alma
mater to get his Master’s degree.
Deßoard now works at AMP
By Kristy Pipher
Capital Times Staff Writer
in computer networking. The
experience of running SGA meet
ings has helped Deßoard with
business meetings in his current
position.
Hilt now serves as Regional
Advocacy Director for the
American Diabetes Association.
Previously he had done campaign
work with the state legislature.
Getting involved with the SGA
helped Hilt to prepare for the
future. “SGA has been a big help in
interacting with people and dealing
with difficult situations,” said Hilt.
Mekosh now works in man
agement at a wholesale ware
house company in New Jersey.
Being a member of SGA has been
beneficial to Mekosh.
“Every lesson you learn from
student government can be
applied in later life, whether it is
your personal or business rela
tionships,” said Mekosh.
He went on to say, “if you to
see things change for the better,
you must involve yourself and
that tends to make others around
you get involved.”
Sheldon is now a deputy pros
ecutor with York County and an
adjunct professor at PSH in the
Humanities Division.
Being involved with the SGA
helped prepare Sheldon for life
after college.
“It teaches you responsibility
at a time when perhaps responsi
bility is not a high priority,” said
Sheldon. He went on to say, “It’s
absolutely the best experience
that I had while at school here.”
An estimated 10,000 people
gathered on the Penn State
Harrisburg campus for an after
noon of fun at the 4th Annual
Community Music and Crafts
Festival on Oct. 2.
Visitors were entertained by
musical acts such as Sweetwater
Reunion, Pastime, Polka Quads
and Ken Gheret's Swing Quartet
at the main sjage. The members
of Pastime, a barbershop quartet,
noted that they “felt like they
were on American Bandstand”
because of the group of young
girls who danced in front of the
stage throughout the set.
Photo by Kristy Pipher
The main tent also featured a
presentation by Space Shuttle
astronaut and Penn State profes
sor James Pawelczyc.
There were also plenty of
activities for the kids, as a chil
dren’s tent that featured a magic
show, make and take crafts and
the Danzante Dancers.
A balloon sculptor was a popu
lar attraction, as he created
unusual small sculptures such as
mice, lady bugs and bumble-bees.
And of course, there were crafts.
Over 150 vendors from as far away
as New Jersey and. Washington,
D.C. showed their wares and most
had a successful day.
Althea Afftlon, who was
offering custom designed wel
come signs, traveled from
Grafton, W. Va., in order to par
ticipate in the festival. This was
Afftlon's first trip to the festival,
and she plans on making it an
annual event.
Clowns were just one of the many attractions at the
Music and Crafts Festival on Oct. 2.
PSH Plays
Day of
"We made up our traveling
Host to
Fun
By Jill Karwoski
Capital Times Staff Writer
expenses, and everyone at the
festival is really nice. The orga
nizers are great, and we've done
well," said Afftlon, whose booth
was among the more popular.
Several PSH student organiza
tions had booths at the festival.
The International Affairs
Association was accepting dona
tions for the Red Cross for the
removal of land mines in
Mozambique, and the Alumni
Association, Kappa Delta Pi and
the Psychology Club manned the
information tent.
Sandra Persing, of Highspire,
brought her two kids, Justin, 8,
and Laney, 5, and family friend
Evan Martslof, also 8, to the fes
tival to enjoy the crafts and
entertainment.
Persing said after coming to
the festival with a friend last
year, she knew that it was an
event her kids would enjoy.
"I left the kids at home last
year so I could do some shop
ping, but this year I brought them
along to enjoy the clowns and
kids shows. It's all free, and that
makes it even better."
Most felt the festival offered a
friendly, folksy atmosphere and
allowed Penn State Harrisburg to
reach out to the community.
Next year’s festival will be held
on Oct. 7, 2000.
The festival is organized by
Penn State Harrisburg and the
communities of Middletown,
Lower Swatara Twp., and
Royalton and proceeds from the
event will go to the communities.