Blindness won’t keep local teen from having bright future

Hopewell Borough boy participated in a science academy program with the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore

By Audrey Levine
   It was 2 a.m. when Trevor Saunders, 16, and 11 other students arrived at the Wallops Flight Facility in Baltimore in mid-July and prepared their rocket for launch.
   Four hours later, everything was ready and the rocket was released, climbing about 6,000 feet into the air.
   "I was pretty excited, thinking ‘Yay, this thing worked,’" Trevor said. "Part of my mind was saying, ‘I’m tired,’ but I was ignoring it."
   Trevor — who lives on West Prospect Street in Hopewell Borough and attends Hopewell Valley Central High School — participated in a science academy program for high school students, with the National Federation of the Blind at the Jernigen Institute in Baltimore. The program, which ran from July 14-22, allowed the students to learn about the history of rockets and how they run, as well as the work done to prepare one for launch.
   According to Mark Riccobono, director of education for the National Federation of the Blind, the science academy program began in 2004 under the guidance of President Marc Maurer.
   "He said that the one thing we needed to do was promote opportunities for the blind in science," Mr. Riccobono said. "The students can learn that blindness is not something that will stop them from having a bright future."
   The academy offers two one-week courses, one for middle school students that ran from July 29 through Aug. 4, and another for high school students, both of which explore different aspects of science, namely earth science and astronomy.
   Mr. Riccobono also said the programs are run mostly by blind teachers and supervisors.
   "The students are working with successful blind adults," he said.
   Trevor said he was happy to be working with such knowledgeable people.
   "I was in awe of all these people who know so much," he said. "How often do you get to spend time with those kinds of people?"
   Mr. Riccobono said the middle school program, called "Circle of Life," allows participants to study biology and chemistry and even dissect a dogfish shark.
   "They are engaging in scientific inquiry," he said. "The work propels them into a new way of thinking and then, in high school, they can say they can do this."
   Trevor participated in the program, "Rocket On," which allows high school students to prepare to launch a 10.5-foot hybrid rocket.
   "They have to complete all the steps (for launch)," Mr. Riccobono said. "This changes their imagination about what they can do for the future."
   Trevor said he and the other students were able to tour the Goddard Space Flight Center in Baltimore, and had the opportunity to pack parachutes and install the motor in the rocket they would eventually launch.
   He also said that, after the launch, they tested the air pressure and temperature from the flight.
   "Launching the rocket was pretty cool," he said. "And I got to learn about the kinds of things that NASA does."
   In order to be accepted as one of the 12 participating students in either program, Mr. Riccobono said, they had to submit an application. In addition, high school students had to provide an essay and letters of recommendation.
   "For middle school, we are looking for students who can benefit from the opportunity," he said. "We choose high school students who have shown they have potential, but are being held back. We want to see an indication that they will take what they have learned and share it."
   Trevor said he applied for the program after his mother brought it to his attention because he enjoys science and math and thought he would have a good time.
   "I like science and trying to adapt different tools to use," he said.
   In addition to everything he learned about science, Trevor said he is glad he had the opportunity to meet other kids from across the United States, including California, New Mexico, Wyoming and Minnesota.
   Mr. Riccobono said students who participate in the program leave with an understanding that their blindness should not be holding them back.
   "Students learn a different way of thinking about the future," he said. "It is the first time they are surrounded by the blind and they realize there really are people out there who look at them as future leaders. We expect them to do what we would expect from anyone else."
   Trevor said he has always considered a career in science and this program will help when he is ready to pick a specific field to study.
   "It is too hard to decide now, (but) I would consider working at NASA," he said. "But this was more experience so that when I do have to decide, I will know more about the topics."