Community Events at AACC in April

A host of events are scheduled at (AACC) throughout April, starting with a presentation from a shuttle pilot focusing on the tragedy of the Challenger mission.

A former NASA astronaut and NASA Deputy Administrator, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Fred Gregory was the only person at Mission Control to be in contact with the Challenger crew during its fateful mission. A veteran of three shuttle missions, Gregory has logged more than 450 hours in space and was the first African-American to command a space flight, the Orbiter Discovery, according to a release from AACC.

The following list of events comes from a press release from AACC.

• April 3—9:30 a.m.: Presentation “Challenger Tragedy—Countdown at Mission Control” by retired U.S. Air Force Col. Fred Gregory who flew three shuttle missions, was the first African-American to command a space flight and as a NASA deputy administrator was the only person at Mission Control in contact with the Challenger crew, event sponsored by the AACC Peer Learning Partnership; Cade Center for Fine Arts Room 219, AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; free; 410-777-1184;  www.aacc.edu/plp/specialspeaker.cfm
• April 4—5:30 p.m.: Dodgeball tournament sponsored by the Student Association Campus Activities Board; Jenkins Gymnasium, AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; $1 per person registration fee, sign up in Student Union Room 102, free for audience; 410-777-2218;  www.aacc.edu/studentlife/cab
• April 7—1 p.m.: Easter egg hunt for children under 12 years old sponsored by the Student Life Office and Student Association Campus Activities Board; quad (inclement weather site: dining hall), AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; free; RSVP by March 30 to kfherrera@aacc.edu; 410-777-2218;  www.aacc.edu/studentlife/cab
• April 11—2 p.m.: Lecture, “Hang Up and Drive” a presentation on the life-changing effects of distracted driving presented by Jacy Good, who lost both parents and was critically injured the day of her college graduation when a distracted driver hit the vehicle they were traveling in, talk sponsored by the Student Life office and Student Association Campus Activities Board; Robert E. Kauffman Theater, AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; 410-777-2043; www.aacc.edu/studentlife 
• April 11—3-6 p.m.: Teacher Education Fair, talk with representatives from a majority of the teacher education programs at Maryland colleges and universities as well as Anne Arundel Community College and Anne Arundel County Public Schools, get information on Maryland State Teacher Certification and the Maryland Credentialing Program in Child Care, keynote address: Laura Groo, Anne Arundel County Public Schools Teacher of the Year, includes other presenters; Center for Applied Learning and Technology Room 100, AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; free; 410-777-2401 or 410-777-2981 or Beth Hadley at bbhadley@aacc.edu;  www.aacc.edu/TEACH
• April 12—7-9 p.m.: Chesapeake Civil War Round Table, Georgia Ladd presents a discussion on “Hetty Carey;” Cade Center for Fine Arts Room 219, AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; free; Lester Brooks: 410-777-2428; http://ccwr.net
• April 14—11 a.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m.: 4th annual event jointly sponsored by the Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails Inc., NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Astrophysics Science and Planetary Science Divisions and the AACC Astronomy Club, features a day and evening of astronomy-themed activities, talks, raffle drawing and stargazing; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Planet Walk on 4.7 mile section of Baltimore and Annapolis Trail with informal talks at planet stations by scientists, astronomers and members of local astronomy clubs (only heavy rain will cancel this portion of the day’s festivities); 7 p.m. “Mooning Pluto: Searching for Rings and Satellites around the Dwarf Planet” presentation by Douglas Hamilton, Ph.D., professor of astronomy at University of Maryland College Park, AACC Dragun Science Building Room 110, followed by raffle drawing; 8 p.m. Community Stargazing Party at Arnold campus observatory, weather permitting; all events are free; 410-777-2260;  www.aacc.edu/science/observatory  or www.friendsofaatrails.org/planet_walk.htm
• April 17—Noon-1 p.m.: Multicultural Game Show sponsored by the Student Association Campus Activities Board as part of the AACC Multicultural Week Celebration, vie for prizes; Student Union dining hall, AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; free; 410-777-2043; www.aacc.edu/studentlife/cab
• April 18—5:30-8 p.m.: AACC Science Night 2012, see how fun science can be and learn about science, past events included making a fire tornado, exciting chemical reactions, laying on a bed of nails, the tablecloth trick, and more, 5:30-6:30 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. two identical science shows in the Robert E. Kauffman Theater, science demonstrations and hands-on activities in the adjacent dining hall 6-7:30 p.m.; Kauffman theater and dining hall are in the Student Union, AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; free; Jason Barbour: 410-777-1217 or jpbarbour@aacc.edu  or http://ola4.aacc.edu/jpbarbour/sciencenight
• April 19—Noon-1 p.m.: Flag Day Scavenger Hunt sponsored by the Student Association Campus Activities Board, winner receives a cash prize; Student Union dining hall, AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; free; 410-777-2043; www.aacc.edu/studentlife/cab
• April 18—5:30-8 p.m.: Academic and Career Connection: Explore Your Future, a college fair focusing on AACC geared to high school students and their parents; meet the faculty, discuss programs of study and career opportunities, learn about degree and certificate programs and workforce training, apply for admission, learn about and apply for financial aid, register for classes, learn about student clubs and athletic programs, find out about partnerships with four-year colleges and universities; Center for Applied Learning and Technology Room 100, AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; free; register to attend at 410-777-1999 or www.aacc.edu/admissions
• April 20—8 p.m.-midnight: Caribbean Party sponsored by the Student Association Campus Activities Board as part of the AACC Multicultural Week Celebration, dance to DJ-generated music and enjoy Caribbean food; Student Union dining hall, AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; free; 410-777-2043; www.aacc.edu/studentlife/cab
• April 21—7:30-10 p.m.: Stargazing, “Community Observing Night,” family event sponsored by the AACC Astronomy Club; club meeting 7:30 p.m. open to the public followed one hour after sunset by stargazing, bring your own telescope and binoculars or use one of the eight AACC telescopes to view planets, stars and moon, weather permitting; Astronomy Lab in rear of lots A and B beside Resource Management Building, AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; free; 410-777-1820; www.aacc.edu/science/observatory
• April 23—1 p.m.: “The Future of Supply Chain Management” and “The Future of Entrepreneurship in America” presented by Kipp Snow, AACC instructional specialist for the Transportation, Logistics and Cargo Security Program, with Steve Berry, AACC instructional specialist, engaged learning, business management and the Entrepreneurial Studies Institute, sponsored by the Institute for the Future at AACC as part of its spring brown-bag lunch lecture series; Cade Center for Fine Arts Room 219, AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; free; 410-777-2708 or if@aacc.edu; www.aacc.edu/future
• April 23—5-7 p.m.: 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament sponsored by the Student Association Campus Activities Board, sign up in Student Union Room 202; Jenkins Gymnasium, AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; $1 per person registration fee, free for audience; 410-777-2043; www.aacc.edu/studentlife/cab
• April 25—Noon: Earth Day activities sponsored by the Student Association Campus Activities Board; academic courtyard bordered by Humanities, Careers Center and Science buildings (inclement weather site: Student Union dining hall), AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; free; 410-777-2043; www.aacc.edu/studentlife/cab
• April 26—8 a.m.: 9th Annual Business Plan Competition sponsored by BB&T Bank features student finalists presenting plans to a panel of judges; location TBD, AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; free; 410-777-2363 or smberry1@aacc.edu; www.aacc.edu/esi
• April 26—2-3:15 p.m.: “Writers Reading @ AACC,” 2011-2012 series, featuring reading and booksigning by Lia Purpura, a Baltimore essayist and poet (http://liapurpura.com), her works include “Rough Likeness,” a January 2012 book of essays; “King Baby,” a 2008 book of poems and “On Looking,” a 2006 award-winning book of essays, event sponsored by the AACC Cultural Events Committee; Humanities Building Room 112, AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; free; information Susan Cohen, 410-777-2545 or sacohen3@aacc.edu
• April 27—7:30 p.m.: AACC Student Association Honors and Awards program; Robert E. Kauffman Theater, Pascal Center for Performing Arts, AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; free; 410-777-2218; www.aacc.edu/studentlife
• April 30—3 p.m.: Capture the Flag game sponsored by the Student Association Campus Activities Board, sign up in the Student Life Office, Student Union Room 202; Siegert Field, AACC Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway; $1 per person registration fee, free for audience; 410-777-2043; www.aacc.edu/studentlife/cab