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PERSONAL STATEMENT
“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” - Carl Sagan
Education
2010 – Jan. 2014, “Tudor Vianu” National High School of Computer Science - public high school in Bucharest, Romania; school profile Mathematics - Computer Science (intensive).
Entry score of 9.85 (out of 10), ranking the 30th out of 240 students. Current average GPA over three years: 9.54 (out of 10).
Jan. 2014 – May 2014, International Computer High School of Bucharest.
August 2014 -, Cornell University
Online Courses
Introduction to Astronomy - MIT Open Courseware, 2013
PH100 Introduction to Physics - Berkeley University (Udacity), Certificate of Completion with Accomplishment, 2013
Foundations of Business Strategy - University of Virginia, Darden School of Business, Certificate of Completion, 2013
How to Build a Startup - The Lean Launchpad, Udacity - Certificate of Completion with Proficiency, 2013
CS101 Introduction to Computer Science - Stanford University, Certificate of Completion, 2012
CS253 Machine Learning - Stanford University, Certificate of Completion, 2012
HCI Human Computer Interactions - Stanford University, Certificate of Completion, 2012
Internet History, Technology and Security - Michigan University, Certificate of Completion, 2012
ST101 Introduction to Statistics - Berkeley University, 2013 - in progress
CS101 Introduction to Computer Science - Berkeley University, 2013 - in progress.
AWARDS & PRIZES
International contests & projects
grand & first prizes
NASA Space Settlement Design Contest 2013
First Prize with NEO Space Settlement project
The team leader of the International Romanian - American Team, 11th grade small team section, selected from 592 qualified projects, entries coming from 20 countries (http://settlement.arc.nasa.gov/Contest/Results/2013/).
Second Prize for Literary Merit
Project description: annual multi-disciplinary contest (since 1994), co-sponsored by NASA Ames & National Space Society (NSS) for students up to 12th grade from anywhere in the world.
NASA Space Settlement Design Contest 2012
First Prize with SOLARIS project, 10th grade individual section, selected from 474 qualified projects, entries coming from 19 countries (http://settlement.arc.nasa.gov/Contest/Results/2012/).
For reference, the 2 projects above can be extensively read on the website www.aleksandravoinea.com.
NSS Roadmap to Space Settlement Student Art Contest, 2014
First Prize Winner with Asteroid Mining near Mars (http://www.nss.org/settlement/calendar/roadmap/2014/gallery.htm)
NSS Roadmap to Space Settlement Student Art Contest, 2013
Grand Prize Winner with Asteroid Mining Module design
To be published on the cover of the National Space Society magazine, Ad Astra, 2013 (http://www.nss.org/settlement/calendar/roadmap/gallery.htm).
Second & third prizES
NASA Space Settlement Design Contest 2014
Third Prize with Olympus project, 12th grade large team section, selected from 562 qualified projects, entries coming from 19 countries (http://settlement.arc.nasa.gov/Contest/Results/2014/index.html).
Humans in Space Art Competition, NASA, 2012 - participated with 3 projects: category Essay (individual), Second Prize; category Sequential visual (individual), Second Prize; category 3D visual (small team), Criterion Recognition.
ESA Project 3: Design your own high-energy astrophysics mission poster, 2012 - Runner-up Prize.
Conrad Awards, 2012 - semifinalist with 3 projects as part of the International American - Romanian team for three categories: Aerospace & Defense, Cyber security, Green Energy
Project description: contest challenging students to inventing new products, aiding aviation and aerospace, cyber security and energy. Winning submissions are sent towards companies in their respective domains.
Cassini “Scientist for a Day”, ESA, 2012 - Third Prize.
honorable mentions & participations
NSS Roadmap to Space Settlement Student Art Contest, 2013 - with Jupiter Orbital Space Settlement.
Odysseus Pan - European contest - Mining Mission project, European Space Agency (ESA), 2013.
Astrometrica, 2013 - asteroid hunting and documenting project, implied using the software given by Astrometrica, scanning for asteroid orbits and trajectories as well as documenting them. Collaboration with a German high school.
NASA Moonkam project, 2012 - selecting areas of the Moon and taking satellite photographs.
Cassini “Scientist for a Day”, ESA, 2011 - Honorable Mention, NASA.
NASA Grail Naming Contest, 2011 - Certificate of Participation.
NASA Quest Challenge, 2008 - Certificate of Completion.
National Contests
Astrophysics and Astronomy Olympiad, National stage in 2013. Bronze Medal offered by the Romanian Society of Physics.
Speak Out, Second Prize - National Stage, 2011; First Prize – County stage, 2011; Honorable Mention - County stage, 2012.
Contest description: Contest of speeches delivered in English on a certain topic towards a large and diverse audience inside a theatre hall, organized by the Romanian Ministry of Education & Euro Art.
History Olympiad, Romanian Ministry of Education, Third Prize, Honorable Mentions - County stage, 2010 - 2011.
English Language Olympiad, Romanian Ministry of Education - multiple participations up to County stage, 2009 - 2011.
PUBLICATIONS
“To the Stars International Quarterly”, Editor (“Messier Object Sky Wonders - The Virgo Cluster of Galaxies“ – April 2014 “M13”- July 2013 ; “ISDC and NASA Space Settlement Design Contest Review” – July and October 2013). Available at: http://www.nss.org/tothestars.
“La vie en nous”, Writer (“Terraforming” March 2012) http://issuu.com/felixbogdan/docs/la_vie_en_nous.
“Vianu Times” Informational Bulletin, May 2013, http://aleksandravoinea.com/ttsiq-et-co/.
hands-on experience & research
First Romanian Remotely Operated Vehicles Competition, 2012 - First Prize. Contest description: participants are required to build remote operated underwater vehicles able to overcome a series of obstacles.
Tesla Coil with the “Henri Coanda Association” - member of the team which built it.
Oscillating Coloring Robot - built to demonstrate basic electronics principles to third and fourth graders.
Operating Game Circuit - built to demonstrate basic electronics principles to third and fourth graders.
Arduino Programming - workshop @ “Center of technical creation”.
Build Your PCB - Electronics workshop @ “Center of technical creation”.
Autodesk 3ds Max animations for Tech School.
Feasibility of positioning a space settlement in an orbit below the Van Allen Belts - research conducted with dr. Al Globus - in progress.
Volunteering and Internship Activities
President of the first NSS Student Chapter - this is the first Romanian chapter, as well as the first established and run by a student.
Description: A chapter of the NSS has the same mission and vision as that of the Society. Chapters educate their members and the public by bringing in speakers. Chapters provide speakers to various organizations to educate schools, civic groups, etc., on the benefit of space exploration.
International Space Development Conference (ISDC) San Diego, California, responsible for
coaching other participants in founding an NSS International Student Chapter.
For reference: Mrs. Karen Mermel, Member of the NSS Board of Directors; kmermel@yahoo.com.
Fulbright Internship (September - December 2012, and on call in 2013), the Fulbright Educational Advising Center (FEAC) in Bucharest.
Responsibilities: researching and updating the FEAC website www.fulbright.ro/educational-advising-center.html; designing FEAC promotional materials, editing FEAC publications; overwriting, editing, translating content about studying in the USA; various administrative tasks (database updating, archiving); participating as a representative of FEAC at the educational fairs organized in Bucharest and summer schools).
Fulbright Representative at the Romanian International Universities Fair (2012, 2013)
For reference: Mrs. Sinziana Medvetchi, Assistant Educational Advisor, Fulbright Romania; FEAC@fulbright.ro
Henri Coanda Association (2012 - present)
Promoting interest in aerospace and aviation as well as rebuilding the “Coanda 1910” airplane, as part of the program “AS IT WAS”, following the original piece technical specifications which the great inventor Henri Coanda left.
Responsibilities: documenting data from original photographs, consolidating data found in various documents, recruiting and coordinating other volunteers.
For reference: Mr. Sorin Dinea, Phd; sorin@arcaspace.ro.
Initiator of “Build Your Own Comet” project, Space Week 2011
Project objectives: engaging students in scientific activities, such as building comet imitations from dry ice, ammonia and organic materials, and discussions based on space related issues.
Leader of drama class, Euroart Foundation, 2011
Participated in drama classes held by professional actors (Cezar Boghina and Gina Kun), with the objective of developing body language and public speaking abilities, team building and acting skills.
Teaching & Summer Activities for Children & Teenagers
Trainer at Artes Summer School, Physics Camp, 2013
Responsibilities: teaching and explaining Physics phenomena, space and science advocacy, scientific experiment set-ups to 3rd and 4th graders.
For reference: Prof. Mihaela Vajaitu; vajaitum@yahoo.com.
Foundation for Romania’s Development, 2012
Responsibilities: taught English to children in an entertaining way with National Geographic and Oxford books support.
“Sf. Iosif” Day Nursery, 2010 - 2011
Responsibilities: helped children with their homework, as well as intensive math classes in order to help them prepare for high school math exam admission.
international conferences & presentations
TEIMUN Conference, 2014, The Hague, Netherlands
S-MUNOB Conference, 2014, Bucharest Romania
IBMUN Conference, 2013, Bucharest Romania - The International Bucharest Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda.
SHINE Conference (Solar Heliospheric and Interplanetary Environment), 2013, Buford, Georgia, USA - presented “The NEO Space Settlement Design” project, at the “Student Day” of the SHINE workshop.
International Space Development Conference 2014, Los Angeles, California, USA - Student Achievement Award; worked as a Volunteer.
International Space Development Conference 2013, San Diego California, USA - Student Achievement Award. Presented: the “Neo Space Settlement” project, “Amun 3554 Mining Mission” (asteroid mining plan), and “Introduction to founding chapters”.
Attendance: top NASA officials, Congressional and Administration officials, representatives of aerospace companies, NSS Governors, directors, chapter leaders, and members, representatives of other space organizations.
Space-up Conference 2013 (within ISDC) - presented “Founding a chapter”.
International Space Development Conference 2012, Washington DC, USA - Student Achievement Award. Presented the “Solaris Space Settlement” project.
SKILLS, ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS
IT competences
Adobe Photoshop - proficient user
Office Package - proficient user
Autodesk 3ds Max - upper intermediate user
Eagle Cad - intermediate
Adobe Flash - beginner user
HTMLx - intermediate user
SOFT SKILLS
Communication Abilities – TMI, May 2014
Emotional Intelligence – TMI, May 2014
Business Presentations – TMI, May 2014
Foreign Languages
English - TOEFL scored 115/120 and 2160/2400 at SAT Reasoning (first attempt).
Spanish - Level B1, Intermediate (3)
French - Level A2
other interests
Reading Favorite authors: Louisa May Alcott, Anne Bronte, Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, Jane Austen, Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Erich Maria Remarque, Mario Puzo, Ken Kesey, Ayn Rand, Frank Herbert; J. R. R. Tolkien, Clive Staples Lewis.
Space Observations
Regularly sessions of space observations performed in the Astronomic Observatory and Astronomic Association Urania in Bucharest; observed Mars, Saturn, Moon, and many other space objects; took photographs of the Moon, Jupiter, and three of its Galilean satellites orbiting it.
Fencing @ Asociatia Sportiva Clubul de Scrima Engarde (Summer 2012)
Ballroom dancing @ Magic Dance. (Summer 2013)
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