IfA Alumni Make Wish Come True

Paige Gonzalez with the Women's Adventures in Science book that features IfA alumna Heidi Hammel. Photo by Gary Fujihara.

The office of Science Education and Public Outreach (SEPO) had the opportunity to help fulfill a dream for Houston Make-A-Wish child Paige Gonzalez. The nine-year-old's wish was to meet her idol, IfA alumnus and Gemini Observatory astronomer Chad Trujillo, so SEPO coordinated a Mauna Kea Experience program at the Visitor Information Station. Trujillo gave a personalized presentation to Gonzalez and her family.

Inge Heyer, an IfA alumna and now public outreach officer with the Joint Astronomy Centre in Hilo, joined the group for dinner at Hale Pohaku.

SEPO also presented a gift of the Women's Adventures in Science book series. Caltech Submillimeter Observatory, `Imiloa Astronomy Center, and the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope also donated gifts.

http://astroday.net/MAW2006.html
http://www.wish.org/