A Sewickley Academy alum recently returned to the private school to give students an out-of-this-world educational and entertaining experience.
Astronaut Mike Fincke met with the Senior School robotics class earlier this month.
Students talked about their robots and how they prepare it for competitions.
Academy officials said Fincke, a 1985 grad, answered thoughtful questions and offered insights drawn from his own engineering and problem-solving experiences in space, reinforcing the importance of iteration, teamwork, preparedness and resilience in high-stakes environments.
Fincke’s visit offered students a rare opportunity to engage directly with someone who has lived and worked aboard the International Space Station.
He later addressed the entire Senior School in a presentation, sharing highlights from his career at NASA and reflecting on the path that led him from student to astronaut.
Fincke emphasized curiosity, perseverance and a willingness to embrace challenges, before opening the floor to questions.
His visit concluded with a special session for fifth graders, who have spent the spring immersed in the study of space.
Academy officials said students were eager to learn from the astronaut and had participated in hands-on simulations at the Challenger Learning Center at Wheeling University earlier this year.