Eureka! Graduation – Rookie Rep
Ke’Ijha’s remarks from the Eureka! Summer 2019 graduation:
Good afternoon everyone. My name is Ke’Ijha Hadley and I am a Eureka! Rookie. Before I get started, I would like to thank some people. I would like to thank my mom for pushing me to sign up for Eureka! and my god mom for providing me with transportation. I would also like to thank all the Hannahs, Ms. Unek, Ms. Courtney, Ms. LIz, Mr. Dario, Ms. Marquita, Ms. Emma, Ms. Sarah, Mr. Will, Ms. Torri and all the student teachers and UNO staff, and Ms. Emily for accepting me into this program. I would also like to thank Maria and her parents for telling me about Eureka! Lastly. I would like to thank all of my fellow Eurekans for sharing these experiences with me.
When I first heard about Eureka! I wasn’t sure I wanted to join because it would take up a lot of my summer. However, what made me interested in Eureka! were all the different activities and projects we would get to do. I figured Eureka! Would keep me busy and I was right.
I got a little better at coding. I learned how to make clothing out of duct tape, even if it wasn’t the prettiest clothing. I also learned a lot during biomechanics. Dr. Cooper taught us that we share 60% of our DNA with bananas.
I think my overall favorite thing I did this summer in Eureka! was the high-altitude ballooning. We sent a high-altitude balloon into near space. My group and I chose to make ooblek, which is a non-Newtonian fluid. On Earth at a normal altitude ooblek has properties of both a liquid and a solid. Once you send ooblek into near space on a high-altitude balloon, when it comes down it is just a solid. That was my favorite activity this summer.
I plan to do a lot of things with the new knowledge I gained this summer. One thing I know I will do is listen to what Mr. David told us during personal development. If we want something done, we have to be the ones to do it.
