The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 29

The Student-Run Newspaper of Nova Southeastern University | March 23, 2021 | Vol. 31, Issue 27 | nsucurrent.nova.edu Last month, the Alan B. Levan NSU Broward Center of Innovation, known simply as the Levan Center, introduced LEVL5: SPACE DOCK, a program focused on future entrepreneurial opportunities in the space sector in South Florida. This program is meant to boost the economy and place Broward County alongside Florida’s “space coast” as a leader in the space industry. LEVL5: SPACE DOCK, which will be housed on the fifth floor of the Alvin Sherman Library, is currently under construction and scheduled to open in early July. According toAndrewAldrin, director of LEVL5: SPACE DOCK, president of the Aldrin Family Foundation and a consultant to NASA, “LEVL5: SPACE DOCK will bring the entrepreneurial spirit and financial strength of South Florida together with the strong commercial space sector of Central Florida to strengthen the position of Florida as a global leader in commercial space. This will be a crucial contribution to Florida’s ability to become a leader in the trillion-dollar space economy of the future.” John Wensveen, the executive director of the Levan Center and NSU’s chief innovation officer, believes this initiative links South Florida to the space sector through the many emerging opportunities in the world of space and trends occurring in the industry. “As an industry, the space sector is becoming more commercialized and less government-dominated, and that opens up a window of opportunity for entrepreneurs to create new [businesses] that can serve anything related to space, such as products and services here on Earth and any kind of technology that can be utilized in space in the future,” said Wensveen. This program presents a unique opportunity for NSU and the South Florida community as, historically, the space industry focused on the space coast of Florida, near Cape Canaveral, with connections to the national and international space system. This program will link Broward County and the tri-county area together to create opportunities to create and commercialize new businesses or scale a smaller business into something larger. According to Wensveen, most of the programs and initiatives represented at the Levan Center will feature topics on technology and provide strong collaborative opportunities. “The Levan Center is designed as an economic development and education development engine, which LEVL5: SPACE DOCK is a part of. This is truly an opportunity to link all the NSU academic programs and disciplines together, [allowing] for collaboration where great things can develop from like certification programs, funding and research and academic progress,” said Wensveen. As part of the Levan Center’s mission to become an economic and entrepreneurial leader in the industry, Andrew Aldrin, at the helm as director of the program, puts NSU in a unique position. “The Aldrin Family is so deeply rooted in the history of space and Andrew is an innovative thinker that has a huge network nationally and internationally that can advance NSU, South Florida and the space industry. He brings a wealth of information and a history of great connections and opportunities for this institution moving forward,” said Wensveen. Christina Mclaughlin Co-Editor-in-Chief Why do we have Confederate History Month? Penei Sewell is the right pick for the Dolphins Beautiful butterflies you can find in South Florida The psychology behind burnouts Features Arts & Entertainment Sports Opinions The Student Run Newspaper of Nova Southeastern University | April 6, 2021 | nsucurrent@nova.edu | Volume 31, Issue 29 TheCurrent 11 9 7 5 Permission by Wensveen- A rendering of the future workspace of LEVL5:SPACE DOCK at the NSU Levan Center NSU announces LEVL5: SPACE DOCK program at Levan Center Honors in major program: Gain the NSU Edge Emma Heineman Features Editor NSU’s Undergraduate Farquhar Honors College provides high-achieving students with a rigorous academic environment through value-added curricular and co-curricular experiences. It is open to all qualifying undergraduate students and encourages students to engage in a transdisciplinary setting. Robin St. George, the academic program manager for the Undergraduate Farquhar Honors College and manager of the honors in major program, explained that the college gives students the opportunity to interact and connect with students outside of their majors. “The honors college is a collaborative community where high achieving students can come together and collaborate in a transdisciplinary model. [They] can branch out and add to [their] academic career. It’s a place where they can broaden and expand their horizons, should they choose to do so,” St. George said. The honors in major program within the honors college gives the highest achieving students the chance to expand their knowledge in their academic discipline through the completion of a project of interest. Projects are overseen by faculty advisors, who serve as mentors for honors in major students, and as St. George put it, “the faculty mentorships that you build alone are worth their weight in gold.” Beyond building connections with faculty mentors, the program also gives students the option to engage in internships, research opportunities, thesis projects and even get published in their field. “It’s a really highly regarded process once you complete it, so students who complete the honors in major program are recognized at graduation,” said St. George. Students who complete the program will receive notations on their transcript and diplomas as well. St. George also explained that, although the program is offered through the honors college, students do not have to be honors college students prior to applying. The honors in major program is open to all qualified undergraduate students with a minimum of a 3.8 GPA. Students must apply in the semester before their last two semesters as an undergraduate at NSU. For students planning to graduate in May 2022, the deadline to apply for the program is April 15. Applications for students who will graduate in August or December 2022 will be due November 1. St. George added that, although the honors in major program sends emails to qualified students inviting them to apply, they don’t necessarily capture all students. If you think you meet the requirements and want to apply, the application can be found at https:// honor s .nova .edu / honor s - i n -ma j or / application.html. Students who are accepted into the program become full members of the honors college. St. George said, “They are afforded all of the membership opportunities, in terms of the workshops and the seminars that we offer and the honors courses that are available. They’re not required to fulfill any of the honors college requirements, only the ones for their home college set forth for the honors and major program, but they’re a member of the honors college from that point on… Once a member of the honors college, always a member of the honors college.”