Randall Roberto Cruz Dunkin (R2) has recently been recognized as North Adams Elementary School’s (NAES) Student Astronomer for the 2015-2016 academic year. Dean Regas, Outreach Astronomer for the Cincinnati Observatory and co-host of the syndicated astronomy program “Star Gazers”, is serving as R2’s stargazing mentor.

Regas says, “The Student Astronomer program helps students that have a passion for astronomy connect with astronomers at the Observatory.” Student Astronomers must have a strong interest in astronomy, and an interest in keeping their colleagues informed about events in the night sky. In exchange for their work, Student Astronomers are invited to special events at the Cincinnati Observatory, provided instruction on how to use the observatory’s telescopes, and given the opportunity to update their home schools about stargazing points of interest.

R2, Student Astronomer for NAES, has already invited his school to participate in the “Send Your Name to Mars” project, where students had their names etched onto a microchip that is going to planet Mars on the Mars Insight Lander spacecraft.

“I enjoy learning about the night sky”, says R2, and I like sharing what I learn. When a special event is happening in the night sky, I tell the students at my school so they will not miss it.”

R2 Dunkin is the son of Randall Dunkin and Olga Cruz of West Union.

Posing here with a star chart, North Adams Elementary student Randall Roberto Cruz Dunkin is the school’s Student Astronomer for the 2015-16 school year.
https://www.peoplesdefender.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_R2-with-Star-Chart.jpgPosing here with a star chart, North Adams Elementary student Randall Roberto Cruz Dunkin is the school’s Student Astronomer for the 2015-16 school year. Submitted photo

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