Quick hitter from KGW News about OSU Alumnus, Don Pettit. Don has already been to space once. He represents the second OSU alumnus in three years to make the journey out of Earth’s atmosphere.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An astronaut from Oregon has been scheduled to make his second trip into space.

Don Pettit, a native of Silverton, will be aboard the next space shuttle mission to the International Space Station.

The shuttle Endeavour is set to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on November 14.

Pettit is one of seven astronauts who will fly on the shuttle mission to deliver equipment and supplies needed to double the station crew size from three to six in May 2009.

Pettit graduated from Silverton Union High School and earned a degree in chemical engineering at Oregon State University.

-jm

When I’m on the road working with parents and students I get lots of questions about where OSU students work and attend grad school after leaving OSU. We’ve documented many career success stories of OSU graduates. I just got a link to a profile from the Harvard Business School’s website of OSU Alumnus, Curt Willener, who is working towards an MBA.

After graduating from Oregon State, Curt Willener found himself prepared for roles within either finance or administration. “I leaned more to management,” Curt says, “but I faced a Catch-22: I wanted management experience – yet companies were looking for experienced managers.” Fortunately, Weyerhauser had a management program eager for new talent. Within a few weeks, Curt was managing a crew of more than twenty-five people. In another couple of months, he became the only supervisor on the night shift – managing people who were all older and more experienced.

As a former Division I wrestler and experienced outdoorsman, Curt was able to build common ground with his crew. “I gained respect by treating them with respect and giving them a fair shake,” says Curt. “You build trust by approaching situations with humility and common sense.”

From a section entitled: “24 hours with Curt” I was proud to see that he is hanging on to his GPNW (Great Pacific Northwest) roots:

6:30 pm I head back to my apartment to start dinner preparations for a small group dinner being hosted by me and another member of my section. Tonight’s menu: wild spring Chinook salmon and spaghetti with sauce made with elk hamburger. “The Wilderness Retreat,” as it’s been coined by my section mates, gives other HBS students the chance to enjoy food from the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, I enjoy cooking and benefit greatly by being able to do so for friends.

Keep up the great work, Curt!

-jm

A follow up from the Linus Pauling Day post from last week. The official Linus Pauling Stamp unveiling was held in the MU Ballroom yesterday. I wasn’t able to attend so I was very interested to see KEZI’s coverage of the event (which was great, by the way…Kudos KEZI!) .

“We are pleased to honor Linus Pauling as one of the top twenty scientists in the world,” said Corvallis Postmaster John Harrington.

After the ceremony, the Postal Service offered a commemorative one-day-only hand-stamped postmark designed specifically for the event.

The new stamp is part of a new series created by the Postal Service honoring American Scientists Gety Cori, Edwin Hubble, John Bardeen, and Linus Pauling. The event was hosted by a combined effort by OSU University Events, Special Collections and Printing and Mailing Services.

A truly great honor for Dr. Pauling and his family!

-jm