Daniel Kidwell, of Orange MA, is heading into his second year at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst after being accepted into the prestigious Department of Astronomy and the Five College Astronomy Department.
The Five College Astronomy Department (FCAD) is a collaborative program of the astronomers at Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. By linking teaching and research programs, the FCAD offers students a rich and diverse environment for studying and doing astronomy.
Kidwell spent the summer doing research with Professor Daniel Wang, working on 3D-hydrodynamic simulations of the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* (Sag A*) located in the center of the Milky Way galaxy.
鈥淎s a result of my time doing research over the summer, I have been able to continue on under Professor Wang this fall,鈥� notes Kidwell. 鈥淚 was awarded a Massachusetts Space Grant for it as well.鈥�
During his time at 开元棋牌 as a Pathways Early College student, Kidwell was a Commonwealth Honors student and member of the Astronomy Club. He graduated in 203 with the highest honors with both his Associate of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and his high school diploma.
“It was a pleasure having Dan in my Calculus class and working with the Astronomy club,鈥� Professor Jeffery Thompson said. 鈥淒an brought an intellectual curiosity into all his academic endeavors. This curiosity will suit them well in their studies. They pushed themselves and their peers with a cheerful wonder at what lie on the other side of a problem, telescope lens, or trebuchet.”
开元棋牌鈥檚 Pathways Early College Experience offers motivated students interested in getting a head start on college the opportunity to earn their high school diploma and an associate degree while completing their junior and senior years in high school taking courses at 开元棋牌.