BCHS Alumni News Blog
Amber Clarke, ’98, begins new role at U. of Indianapolis
Amber Clarke, BCHS Class of 1998, was recently named as the Health Professions Navigator for the University of Indianapolis. This student engagement position is brand new for UIndy, and provides academic and pre-professional support, programming, and mentoring/internship/development opportunities for UIndy students pursuing careers in the Health Professions.
Doug Jones, ’78, in The Shape of Water
BCHS Alumnus, Doug Jones, Class of 1978, plays the amphibian man in the new movie ‘The Shape of Water’, a movie in the running for seven Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 7, 2018.
He credits his ‘ease in the role’ with swimming lessons during summer childhood, and has been described as ‘the Fred Astaire of monsters’. He has portrayed Marvel Comic’s Silver Surfer and a Penguin sidekick in ‘Batman Returns’. Look for him in future appearances in ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ and two “Hellboy’ projects.
Read the entire story in the IndyStar.com.
Dan Dumbacher, ’77, is named AIAA Executive Director
Dan Dumbacher, BCHS Class of 1977, has been appointed executive director of the world’s largest aerospace technical society, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). As executive director, he will lead the organization’s 70-person professional staff and oversee its $20 million annual budget.
Dan joins AIAA from Purdue University, where he serves as professor of Engineering Practice in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He became a faculty member at Purdue after retiring from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), where he spent more than three decades.
At NASA, Dan most recently served as deputy associate administrator in the Exploration Systems Development Division for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate. In that capacity, he provided leadership and management as the program director for exploration systems development encompassing the Space Launch System, Orion, and Ground Systems Development and Operations development and integration efforts.
Previously, Dan managed the Engineering Directorate at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, which supported the Space Shuttle program’s propulsion elements, design and development of Ares launch vehicles, oversight of NASA’s Payload Operations Center, and supported all Marshall Space Flight Center International Space Station and science missions.
He also was deputy director of the Ares Projects Office and, before that, was deputy director for product assurance in the safety and mission assurance office, focusing on Space Shuttle return-to-flight efforts. Other assignments included manager of the X-37 Flight Demonstrator, deputy manager of the Space Launch Initiative Program, and program manager of the Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle Program, among other roles.
Honors at NASA include being awarded the coveted Silver Snoopy Award, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service. He twice received the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, in 2002 for accomplishments related to NASA’s Space Launch Initiative Program, and in 1997 for his work on the DC-XA Project. Purdue University recognized him with the Outstanding Mechanical Engineer Award in 2003, and with the W.A. Gustafson Teaching Award in 2015.
Congratulations, Dan, on an accomplished career and this important position.
Trojan Joe Underwood nominated for ‘best teacher in the world’
BCHS Trojan Joe Underwood, a Trojan for several years until he moved to Florida, is among the 50 finalists for the Global Teacher Prize for the ‘best teacher in the world’.
See all nominees from around the world here.
Joe has stayed in touch with his Class of 1971 and we all congratulate him on this amazing honor!
BCHS Visits Alumni at Western Kentucky U.
BCHS Alumni Director Robin Kontor was excited to head to Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green to visit BCHS alumni attending the university. And, she also presented them with BCHS Cafeteria cookies, as she begins the first stop in the new’BCHS COOKIE TOUR’, starting just this year!
Robin was happy to talk with the following alumni who are students there:
Not pictured, but visited were:
- Mark Webster, BCHS Class of ’16, majoring in broadcast journalism
- Jalen Douchee, BCHS Class of ’17, major not available
- Robert Sammy, BCHS Class of ’16, majoring in Pre Med
- Gabe Coleman, BCHS Class of ’17, majoring in Sports Marketing
- Aleise Holder, BCHS Class of ’16, majoring in Child Development
- Rajah Hopkins, BCHS Class of ’17, major not available
Not pictured, but visited were:
- Brandon Sammy, BCHS Class of ’17
- Jim Bell, BCHS Class of ’16
- Jack Boilini, BCHS Class of ’16
