Aerospace Engineer in the Family. WOW!

 

 

I had a topic planned for this week, until I realized this was College Graduation week for my oldest grandgirl, Hailey Hays Reale. The name of her degree, after five long years of really hard work. . . Ta da! . . . AEROSPACE ENGINEERING. (Even in her freshman year she was dealing with equations that blew my mind.) She has been interning with Lockheed Martin for some time, doing work that comes under "If I told you, I'd have to kill you," and is already contracted to LM after she graduates. The painting her artistically talented cousin Lionel did on her graduation cap will, however, give you a hint.

GO, HAILEY! WE ALL SO PROUD OF YOU! 

Special Gesture from UCF: 

Since UCF is something like the second largest college in the country, with 1500 in the Engineering Department alone, UCF arranges "photo ops" for its graduates. For Hailey, it was this past Thursday. Girls arrive in white dresses, plus cap & gown. Professional photographers take individual pics, record each grad's "walkover" ceremony, where they shake hands with a VIP, receive fake diplomas, pose for yet another pic before walking off. This is an all afternoon come-when-you-want-to event, so parents get up-front seats, their cheers easily heard. What a wonderful way to make graduation personal for each student. A hearty thank-you to whoever thought that one up!

Below Susie's words with the pics she posted to Facebook, plus a selection from "photo op" day. 

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 After 5 long years in the UCF College of Engineering, Hailey is finally graduating! We are so proud of her self discipline, tenacity, and dedication to get to this point, graduating with a major in Aerospace Engineering. Beautiful and intelligent! She's grown into a fabulous young lady. Hailey has accepted a great job offer with Lockheed Martin in Orlando. She also paid off her car and got her 1st apartment! So proud of our 1st born baby girl!!    (Susie Kone Reale)

  

With Riley

 

 

Cassidy missed out as she was at a Flight-related conference in Los Angeles most of the week. One of their special treats, a visit to Edwards Air Force base where they saw the launch of the super-secret X59 (no photos allowed) and Cassidy got to sit in the cockpit of an F-18 (at least I think that's what she said it was).

 

SpaceX Falcon Heavy, posted by City of Cape Canaveral

Note the reflection. (4/28/26) 

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A memorable week in the Kone/Reale Family! 

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