Andrew Feustel, a geophysicist, NASA astronaut, Michigan native and a community college, Purdue and Queen’s University graduate, was the keynote speaker at “Summer Skies at Macomb” on Friday, June 14, on South Campus.  Feustel shared insights from his two trips into space: in 2009 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis and in 2011 on the final voyage of the Space Shuttle Endeavour.  About 600 attended the free event, which marked the debut of the College’s astronomical observatory, located just off the campus’ Martin Road entrance. Other highlights included a planetarium show, a demonstration on space’s frigid temperatures and an interactive play about the constellation Andromeda.  After sunset, however, the real star(s) came out and attendees lined up to view the sky from the observatory and on other telescopes provided by the Warren Astronomical Society.

When Alan May decided to join Macomb’s Beta Lambda Kappa chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, he had no idea it would connect him to a “family” that “supports you unconditionally.” May studied fire science at Macomb and earned his EMT certification in the mid 90s, returning in 2010 to pursue a criminal justice degree. Both times his grade point earned him an invite to the prestigious honor society, but he didn’t accept until the second time around. Now chapter president, regional vice president and 2013 recipient of its national Distinguished Officer award (shown here after receiving it in California), May credits Jenn McCabe, student activities manager, and the College in general as the inspirations behind his success. “I have had the opportunity to work alongside some of the most fantastic people,” says May. “Macomb to me is a home away from home.  I feel like I belong.”