EATON — Addie Bell, a junior at Eaton High School, recently competed in the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy, hosted at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
Out of the 10 Team Leaders Awards, she was selected and presented with the top leadership award called the “Power of Connected award” for her class of over 170 students.
As the top Leadership award winner, Bell received an official NASA Space Camp bomber jacket and leadership certificate.
This year, Honeywell invited 325 students from 35 countries and 25 U.S. States and territories to attend the annual Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC) in Huntsville, Alabama. The two week-long programs – Feb. 24 through March 9 – gave students the opportunity to build leadership skills by tackling real-world challenges in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Through this immersive program, students learn teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills, and get a glimpse of the possibilities for their lives and careers in the 21st century.
According to John Bell, Addie Bell’s father, “Addie was accepted to attend the program through a very competitive selection process with about 170 students being selected for her class. The HLCA includes Space Camp, Aviation Challenge, Robotics Camp, and Leadership events.
“The Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy divided the class into 10 teams that participated in various events such as incident command, a space mission, and an Air Force mission. Addie graduated the academy on Thursday, March 8 and was recognized as the team leader of her team called Team Innovation.”
According to Addie Bell, the challenge encompassed all of the camps that are offered at NASA: Space Camp, Aviation Camp, and Robotics Camp. She originally applied interested in what HLCA would teach her about her own future career goals and left with close friends and a love of robotics and aviation.
“It was really amazing. I got to do so many things that most people are not able to do and I got to experience so many opportunities. I got to actually build a rocket and use some robotics that most people don’t know about. I was able to have some experiences that most people can’t have in their whole lifetime,” she said.
“I really enjoyed the robotics and aviation programs, so I am now thinking of being an engineer or a pilot.”
As for the award she won, Addie Bell noted, “There were little awards throughout the whole ceremony, but then there were nomination awards for each of the 10 teams. I was nominated by my team, Team Innovation, where I was the leader. I actually won that award, for being the best leader out of all the teams. I was really surprised, but really happy that I got the award.
“I believe this challenge is very life changing. It can alter your perspective on the world and it helps you integrate with society. It helps you overall. There is no negativity there, only positive energy. The people you are teamed up with become your family. I can apply next year to be an ambassador for the program, where I would help the new students integrate into the program. I will definitely apply for next year.”
Addie Bell (OH, USA)
Multi-Axis Trainer (MAT) on Day 2 of Week 2 of the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy (HLCA) at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center (USSRC) in Huntsville, Alabama on Monday, March 5, 2018.
