16 January ICC's Swanson participates in NITARP January 16, 2019 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 Itawamba Community College astronomy instructor Bob Swanson of Tupelo was among more than 30 participants from the NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program who attended the winter meeting of the American Astronomical Society from Jan. 6-10 in Seattle, Wash. He is the first Mississippi educator to participate in NITARP. For more than a decade, NITARP has partnered small groups of educators with a research astronomer for original, year-long research projects. At the AAS meeting, the educators from the 2018 class, along with some of their students, presented the results of their work over the past year. As part of NITARP’s 2019 class, Swanson will be teamed with three other educators from Iowa, Kansas and Massachusetts, as well as selected students, to work with astrophysicist Dr. Luisa Rebull of Caltech. They will present their research in detecting star-forming regions in the Lagoon Nebula, using archived data from the Kepler Space Telescope, at the 2020 AAS winter meeting to be held in Honolulu, Hawaii. “This NITARP opportunity allows me to directly involve a student, Jaydin Walthers of Pontotoc, with real astronomy research,” Swanson said. “Not only will it make me a more effective teacher for future students, but I hope it proves to be a catalyst in Jaydin’s pursuit of a career in astrophysics.” From NITARP’s early years through the 2019 class, a total of 116 educators from 37 states have participated or will participate. Swanson’s background includes Shannon High School, where he taught physics, physical science and earth science; professional meteorologist – six years as a TV weatherman and four years as assistant weather editor of USA Today. He earned bachelor’s degrees in both physics and philosophy from The University of Scranton and a master’s degree in meteorology from Penn State University. In his spare time, Swanson writes and records children’s music about weather (Stormin’ Bob Swanson, the Singing Weatherman) and gives science presentations to local schools, libraries and community groups. He and his wife, Meredith, are the parents of three sons, D.J., Nate and Henry. NITARP works with educators because, through them, NITARP reaches thousands of students per year with information about how science really works, what NASA does and the wealth of astronomy data that is freely available to the public. IPAC, based at Caltech in Pasadena, Calif., is leading this program. The teams use archival data from the Spitzer Space Telescope (part of the Spitzer Heritage Archive, SHA), the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED), the NASA Exoplanet Archive, the NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive (IRSA), all of which are based at IPAC, and other NASA archive holdings. Funding is provided by the NASA Astrophysics Data Program. Related Articles Swanson is MSVCC Instructor of the Year Bob Swanson of Tupelo, astronomy instructor at Itawamba Community College, has been named Mississippi Virtual Community College Instructor of the Year. “While I’m still a bit incredulous, the fact that I was selected out of so many worthy candidates somehow validates my online teaching mantra – that online students deserve a learning experience that is as similar as possible to the one received by their traditional, face-to-face counterparts,” Swanson said. “Thankfully, with today’s technology supported by the vision and know-how of ICC’s eLearning and TIS departments, this goal can largely be achieved.” The voting committee cited Swanson’s significant use of multi-media by adding and recording videos as something that sets his class apart, according to Denise Gillespie, dean of eLearning. Criteria for selection include demonstrates a genuine concern for students and the capability to inspire them; inspires students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn; motivates students to learn and facilities in-depth learning; develops meaningful and innovative curricula; has the respect and admiration of his colleagues; arranges media and content in the online environment to help students transfer knowledge most effectively; strives ... Swanson set for SOFIA flight Bob Swanson of Tupelo, astronomy instructor at Itawamba Community College, will participate in one of NASA’s 11 educator teams for its Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors program and will fly on its Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, Mar. 5-11. During that week, his team will make at least two and possibly three research flights, each lasting about 12 hours. As part of his role as an Airborne Astronomy Ambassador, Swanson said that he is to do public outreach for the SOFIA program. He has recently released a song to iTunes, “Infra-Ready (Set to Go!),” to commemorate the opportunity. In his spare time, Swanson writes and records children’s music about weather (Stormin’ Bob Swanson, the Singing Weatherman) and gives science presentations to local schools, libraries and community groups. “To make my outreach as effective as possible, I try to bring all my talents to bear, including my passion for music and songwriting,” he said. The program is a professional development opportunity for educators designed to improve teaching methods and to inspire students. As part of the preparation, the Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors complete a graduate credit ... 12 sophomores selected as members of ICC's prestigious Hall of Fame Twelve Itawamba Community College sophomores have been selected as members of the prestigious Hall of Fame for 2022-23. They include and Kelly Barnett, Anthony Reece Cantrell, both of Amory; Lori Leachman of Bruce; Emma Grace Allen, Hayden Campbell, both of Fulton; Emory Reinhard of Mantachie; Eli Harlow of Pontotoc; Lexi Tabbs of Red Bay, Ala., Madison Collins of Shannon; Noah Jones of Smithville; and Jamarious “Jay” Salters and Mae Young, both of Tupelo. At ICC, Allen’s activities have included Indian Delegation president, Orientation Leader, Food Pantry representative, Resident Assistant and a member of the Baptist Student Union Leadership Team, The Global Experience, Fashion Tribe, STEM Club, The Wesley Foundation, Phi Theta Kappa, Honors College, Science Club and Wesley Foundation. Among her honors are Dean’s List, Freshman and Sophomore Homecoming Maid and first runner-up in ICC’s Most Beautiful Pageant. A pre-med (biology) major, Allen is also involved in college ministry and youth group at Bethel Baptist Church. She is the daughter of Dr. Jay and Belinda Allen. Barnett, who is majoring in Business and Marketing Management Technology, is a member ... ICC's Triplett to be featured speaker for Feb. 12 Unity program Deon Triplett, coordinator for the Minority Achievement Network for Upward Progression (MANUP) at Itawamba Community College, will be the featured speaker for a Unity Program in celebration of Black History Month, at noon, Feb. 12, at the Itawamba Community College Tupelo Campus in the Academic and Student Center, and at 6 p.m. in the W.O. Benjamin Fine Arts Center at the Fulton Campus. Triplett currently resides in Tupelo with his wife, Lealue Kriscia Triplett, and their sons, Kayden, Kayson and Karson. He earned the associate’s degree from Itawamba Community College, the bachelor’s degree from Blue Mountain Christian University and the master’s degree from Walden University. Prior to joining the ICC family, he was a Mental Health Clinician for Lifecore Health Group in Tupelo. Triplett accepted his call into the ministry at the age of 20 and preached his first sermon at Mount Sinai Baptist Church in 2005. From 2014-22, he served as senior pastor at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Hamilton, and he now is Lead Pastor at The Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Aberdeen. He participates in ... ICC's Sigma Kappa Delta inducts new members Several Itawamba Community College students have been formally inducted into Sigma Kappa Delta during the 2024 spring semester. They include Aberdeen – Connor Bounds, Taylor Harrison, Serenity Ivy, Stephanie Riddle, Allison Underwood; Amory – Kaitlyn Allred, Melanie Bennett, Ella Browning, Jeremy Cooper, Jayla Marsh, Hayden West; Baldwyn – Colton Byrd; Batesville – Masimo Aguilar; Belden – Jaymie Griffin, Brayden Wammack; Blue Springs – Cidney Crump; Booneville – Nelson Jenkins; Brooksville – Shamariah Barber; Bruce – Joshua Spratlin; Caledonia – Brandi Deloach; Clinton – Grace Weisenberger; Columbus – Abigail Cucchiara; Corinth – Audrey Swanson; Ecru – Kenneth Davis; Fulton – Dessa Burkhart, Chloe Digby, Madison Dillard, Shelby Franks, Autum Franks, Catherine Elizabeth McFadden, Janiyah Morrow, Davis Phillips, Brayden Summerford, Alivia Tipton; Golden – Aubrey Embrey; Guntown – Ryan Garner, Max Ray; Hamilton – Meradith Gaudet, Shelby Sullivan; Houlka – Arizona Black, Manijah Martin; Mantachie – Caden Graham, Kayleigh Maxcy, Wesley Umfress; Mooreville – Cristal Aguirre, Kayli Hall, Emma Montgomery, Molly Murray, Mary Puckett, Ava Fideasah Willoughby; Myrtle – Jonna Lumpkin; Nettleton – Ally Hurley, Kaillee Inmon, Amberlee Ramey, Allee ... ICC's Community Relations team wins more than 30 CPRAM awards Itawamba Community College’s Community Relations team received a total of more than 30 awards from the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi, which were presented during a recent conference in Bay St. Louis. They include C.J. Adams of Fulton – third place, Photograph, for “New Semester Excitement;” first place, Television Spots, for “2023 ICC Super Bowl Commercial;” third place, Radio Spots, for “Fall Preview Day;” first place, Television Program, for “Skilled to Work;” second place, Multi-Media Presentation, for “2023 Orientation Presentation;” second place, New Media, for “Fireworks CRM;” first place, New Media, for “Inside ICC;” third place, Social Media – Non-Sports, for “Itawamba Community College Nat’l Smarties Day;” third place, Social Media – Sports, for “LetsGoICC YouTube Shorts; second place, Sports Promo/Hype Video, for “2024 ICC Volleyball Schedule Release;” first place, Creative Partners, for “I See A Leader Partnership;” Lee Adams of Fulton – second place, Digital Art/Photo Illustration, for “2023 ICC Softball Poster;” third place, Sports Photograph, for “Diving Catch;” second place, Sports Photograph, for “Boom;” first place, Sports Photograph, for “Strike;” third place, Television Program, for “ICC ... 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