L-W North Science Teacher Sees Dream Come True in Research Flight

Science teacher Peggy Piper would often teach her students about SOFIA, the world's largest airborne observatory, saying, "I'm gonna be right there one day."

For the past couple of years,  Lincoln-Way North High School science teacher Margaret "Peggy" Piper has been talking to her students about a research lab in the sky. Last week, NASA announced that she will join the team that will fly on the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) as part of a six-person team of educators to work with scientists. "You know, I've been talking about it for two years with the students," Piper told Patch in a recent interview. "And I've always told them when I pointed at the airplane, I said, 'You know what? I'm gonna be right there one day.' And now I am." SOFIA is a highly modified Boeing 747SP aircraft fitted with a 100-inch (2.5-meter) diameter telescope, according to NASA. The telescope …

• Photos (3)

PatchCast: A Daily Video Report

Daily PatchCast: Police Chief Dies, Special Ed Cuts and NASA Flight

A daily video recap of the Southland's top stories

District 122 Working to Determine Education Plans for Special Needs Students NASA Selects L-W North Teacher for Sky-High Adventure UPDATED: Tinley Park Police Chief Was "All Heart," Funeral Monday UPDATED: Funeral Set for Annabella Loerop, 4, Killed by Car in Tinley Park Fitzgerald: Top 'Cat Once Was Nothing More Than a 'Pioneer'

• Videos (1)

Lincoln-Way North Students Make 'Superstar' Discovery

Three science students at Lincoln-Way North help astronomers identify a special star.

Three  Lincoln-Way North High School seniors will have an unusual achievement to put on their college applications: the students, led by teacher Peggy Piper, helped astronomers identify a variable star, a rare type of star with regular changes in brightness. Justin Christensen, Rebecca Rosignolo and Joey Romero, all 17-year-old seniors at North, identified the star while participating in a program called NASA/Infrared Processing and Analysis Center Teacher Archive Research Program, or NITARP. They presented their findings in January at the American Astronomical Society winter meeting in Seattle. The students’ discovery came as a surprise to all involved. “When I got back, everyone would ask me, ‘What’d you do, discover a star?'” …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (4)

Announcement Roundup

School Achievers: L-W East Grads Make All-American Team

Plus, L-W North students are inducted into the Science National Honor Society.

Senior quarterback Anthony Kropp and junior kicker Tom Lynch, both of Frankfort and both Lincoln-Way East High School graduates, were among 10 Saint Xavier football players named Jan. 14 to the 2010 Victory Sports Network NAIA All-American Team. Both claimed first team honors. Also named to the first team were senior defensive back Pat Geary, of Mokena and a Lincoln-Way East graduate, and wide receiver Mike Maher, of Plainfield who graduated from Providence Catholic in New Lenox. In addition, SXU had junior offensive lineman Michael Johnson, of Harvey (Thornton High School), earn second team recognition. Honorable mentions went to senior linebacker Brendan Sheehy, of Chicago (Brother Rice), senior wide receiver Xavier Torres, of Chicago (…

• Photos (4)