Hobbies and interests
Music
Music Composition
Music Production
Track and Field
Boy Scouts
Aerospace
Engineering
3D Modeling
Reading
Philosophy
Civil Rights
Climate Change
I read books multiple times per month
Jack Elfenbaum
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FinalistJack Elfenbaum
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FinalistBio
I am a Sophomore at Occidental College with a professional work ethic and a range of skills. I am heavily involved in extra-curricular activities and value the importance of staying engaged in my community. Some of my extra-curriculars include Cross Country Team Captain, volunteering for elderly members of my religious community, and achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. I aspire to enter a career in the aerospace industry, and gain connections and experience through internships with NASA and other private aerospace companies. My long-term goal is to one day become an astronaut and the first person to set foot on Mars.
Education
Occidental College
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Physics
Minors:
- Music
Miscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Engineering Physics
- Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
- Music
- Political Science and Government
Career
Dream career field:
Astronaut
Dream career goals:
Working towards achieving unparalleled space travel milestones
Umpire
Albany Little League2017 – 20192 yearsJunior Counselor
Camp Kee Tov2021 – 2021
Sports
Track & Field
Varsity2020 – 20233 years
Awards
- 2022 NCS 3200 qualifier, 2023 4x800 NCS 3rd place.
Cross-Country Running
Varsity2016 – Present8 years
Awards
- 2021 CIF Team State Champion, 2022 CIF Team State 3rd place, 2021-2022 NCS Team Sectional Champion
Arts
Albany High School Jazz
Music2019 – Present
Public services
Volunteering
National Honors Society — Volunteer2020 – 2023Volunteering
Boy Scouts of America — Volunteer2020 – Present
Future Interests
Advocacy
Politics
Volunteering
Philanthropy
Jacob Daniel Dumas Memorial Jewish Scholarship
In his gripping speech, We Choose to Go to The Moon, President Kennedy said, “There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in outer space as yet. … Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation may never come again.” Imagining a day when we could call ourselves an interplanetary species makes me feel as if nothing is impossible. The idea ignites my sense of curiosity and wonder as to how everyday life would differ if we were able to travel beyond the earth with ease. This has propelled my dream of becoming an Astronaut. It’s not the thrill of pushing a spacecraft to its absolute limit that attracts me, but rather my curiosity about what lies beyond that limit. The pure opportunity for discovery that Kennedy spoke of galvanizes my passion for space. I hope my future vocation will help propel humanity towards one day achieving Kennedy’s dream of becoming a space-bearing civilization, harnessing the unparalleled cooperation and innovation that enables the discovery of what lies beyond the world we know. This goal inspires my desire to explore and learn everything I can about space travel.
With a degree in Physics, I'll be equipped to be a part of the next generation of pioneers and leaders in the rapidly expanding field of space exploration. Being able to lead my peers in this field is my calling. But none of this would be possible without a solid foundation in Physics and the fields I'll be studying. No matter how difficult, this career path is something I will follow unwaveringly for the rest of my life, and it won't be possible without achieving a foundation in the STEM field.
Despite Kennedy’s ambitions, NASA’s funding for future moon and Mars exploration has faltered since the Shuttle program's end. In an era filled with issues detrimental to society, the advancement from space exploration is imperative to how we develop solutions. Kennedy said the frontier of space provides an opportunity to explore internationally, enabling us to overcome societal barriers and divisions. It's that same possibility that I strive to work towards, ensuring our society will realize Kennedy's aspirations and work together to harness the progress that can be made from exploring space. I hope that through my exploration of space, I can focus that progress on combating society's greatest problems, such as climate change, poverty, inequality, and global conflict.