The Evening in Photos

July 19, 2001 - Wyndham Garden Hotel, Sunnyvale, California.

As the evening starts to unfold, AIAA San Francisco Section chairman Gano Chatterji asks newsletter editor Rick Kwan to play photographer for the evening. "It's very simple," Gano tells Rick. Sure it is.

First attempt

Gano had just started to announce an award for Juanita Ryan for her efforts in pre-college outreach. An inspired moment!, the newsletter editor thinks. He hurriedly tries to move into position, and presses down on a piece of the camera. Uhhh... By the time he identifies the button, Juanita is leaving to sit down with her award.

Oh yeah. It has flash!

Prasada Gogineni accepts award for his efforts in organizing seminars on professional development from section chairman Gano Chatterji. This time, our aspiring photographer moves into position first, and press the button. But he later discovers that the flash reflects on smooth surfaces like glass. Either that or the section chairman has earned a halo for his efforts.

Pre-College Outreach Award

Juanita Ryan relaxes with her award for her tireless work in outreach to K-12 students.

Trying another angle...

Our aspiring photographer dashes around the tables into another position just as Gano yields podium to Juanita.

Presenting Essay Awards

Pre-College Outreach Director Juanita Ryan announces winners of the 13th Annunal Essay Contest. The essay topic was What should we doing in space? Over 100 essays were submitted. Of these, three 7th graders and three 8th graders were chosen as winners of this year's contest.

oops!

The photographer shoots too soon as section chairman Gano Chatterji stoops to pick something up.

Seventh grade 3rd place award

Award is presented to Kimberly Hwe, Hoover Middle School, San Francisco, sponsored by teacher D. Kujawa. She is surrounded by Gano Chatterji and her parents.

Seventh grade 2nd place award

Award is presented to Jeff Singer, Pacific Collegiate, Santa Cruz, sponsored by teacher Darryl Steely. He is surrounded by Gano Chatterji and his parents.

Seventh grade 1st place award

Winner is Sandy Connery, Pacific Collegiate, Santa Cruz, sponsored by teacher Darryl Steely. But he is in Latvia with his dad, out of telephone contact, and does not know yet that he has won. His mom comes to accept the award for him.

Eighth grade 3rd place award

Award is presented to Meg Stevens, Redwood Middle School, Saratoga, sponsored by teacher Julie Shultz. From left are section chair Gano Chatterji, winner Meg Stevens, her mother Mrs. Stevens, and teacher Julie Shultz.

Eighth grade 2nd and 1st place awards

The eighth grade winners also included 2nd place winner Christine Yen and 1st place winner Lauren Sun, both of Redwood Middle School, and sponsored by teacher Julie Schultz. These two winners were out of town, attending an advanced math summer class at UCLA, organized by Johns Hopkins University. They received word there that they had won.

Introducing tonight's speaker

Programs director Fanny Zuniga introduces speaker Maria Bualet on the subject of Mars Rovers: Past, Present, and Future

Mars Rovers

Speaker Maria Bualat launches into her presentation, complete with photos from Mars Sojourner and animations to show how proposed mission concepts would operate.

The Essay Award Winners

In front from left: winner Jeff Stevens, winner Kimberly Hwe. In rear, winner Meg Stevens, section chair Gano Chatterji, science teacher Julie Schultz, and Mrs. Connery accepting for Sandy Connery. Not shown are eighth grade 1st place winner Lauren Sun and eighth grade 2nd place winner Christine Yen.

The Essay Award Winners (2)

A little closer this time, now that the photographer is finally figuring this out.

Winners, parents, et cetera

All these people! Our aspiring photographer searches out a location among the tables to get the winners, their parents, teachers, and friends.

Winners, parents, et cetera (2)

Hmmm... we can get closer. Photographer tries again, this time filling the frame. That's a wrap! Print it!