Senior Isaac Boczkiewicz has committed to Florida Institute of Technology for Aerospace Engineering. This program has direct internship opportunities with NASA and a high employment rate afterwards. They offer hands-on learning opportunities that he is excited for as well.
Boczkiewicz has always been infatuated with space and that’s why he has set himself up for this degree. “After college, my main goal is to be an astronaut- that would be my dream job,” Boczkiewicz said. “However I’d be fine with doing aerospace engineering too.”
Boczkiewicz is excited for a new chapter in his life. “I’m most looking forward to the new opportunities of living in a different state,” Boczkiewicz said. “I’m also excited for the college programs.”
While Bocziewicz is excited, he knows that there will be challenges as well. “The hardest part is definitely going to be the math and science of engineering,” Boczkiewicz said.
Bocziewicz thought about other schools such as MIT and Embrey Riddle as well,but the Florida Institute of Technology had the best opportunities for him. “It has a really strong aerospace engineering program with hands-on learning, and I’d be doing a lot of actual engineering,” Bocziewicz said. “I’d say that the main reason was the direct internships with NASA.”
Bocziewicz believes getting into this program was not easy and nerve wracking. “They didn’t get a hold of me for a while, and I was really scared I didn’t get in,” Bocziewicz said. “They had a pretty strict SAT score, and you had to take certain math classes in order to get in, like calculus and AP Physics.”
Bocziewicz is also excited for other opportunities that Florida Institute of Technology offers. “I’m excited to take some philosophical stuff or even just being in the choir program that they have would be cool,” Bocziewicz said.
Bocziewicz has known that he wanted to go to college for this degree since early on in high school. “The Aerospace Engineering part of it is more recent. I’d say I wanted to do that since my sophomore year,” Bocziewicz said.
Paul Bonner, an art teacher at Manitou Springs High School, has had Bocziewicz for all four years in advisory and in his Digital Photography class as well as his CSU Pueblo drawing class. “ he’s been an awesome kid to have in both advisory and in class and he’s a hard worker,” Bonner said.
Bonner believes that Bocziewicz is always ready to grow and be better. “He’s open to constructive criticism, and he’s willing to try new things in class,” Bonner said.
Bonner thinks that Bocziewicz has the time management and drive needed to succeed in college. “I think sometimes people can underestimate him because he’s kind of quiet, but I think he’s pretty driven,” Bonner said. “I know in the past he managed sports and theater and different clubs.”
Bonner remembers Bocziewicz through a special experience they shared. “One of the best memories was when we dressed up during homecoming; and I was the Jedi Master and he was the padawan, and he let me borrow his lightsaber for the day,” Bonner said.
Cameron Schwartz (12) a friend of Bocziewicz, has been in P.E. and A P Literature with him and thinks he brings up the ones around him whenever he can. “He’s great to have in class, he brings the whole mood of the class up,” Schwartz said. “He is always super kind and willing to help if you ever have a question.”
Schwartz thinks that Bocziewicz will definitely succeed in college. “He’s super hard working, really smart, and really strong in that field; so he will most definitely succeed,” Schwartz said.
Schwartz has enjoyed his time in class with Bocziewicz, especially his time in Health class with him. “I remember in Health after every single class we would play blackjack with our friends,” Schwartz said.
Bonner hopes to still hear from Bocziewicz after he’s done with high school. “I hope he keeps in touch and doesn’t forget about the little people and I’m excited to hear about his adventures after high school,” Bonner said.
