Jason Andrechak '13 & Steve Horan '72

2/21/2013

Archmere's students are inspired to distinction in the classroom, on the athletic fields, in the studio, on the stage and in the community every day. After graduation, our alumni go on to become successful professionals in their fields, leaders in the community, and living testimonies of their Archmere education. Archmere senior Jason Andrechak and 1972 graduate Dr. Steve Horan are just two examples of the unique students and alumni of Archmere Academy.

Jason Andrechak '13 is a National Merit Finalist, an Eagle Scout and a National Science Honor Society member who hopes to major in Chemical or Biomedical Engineering in college.

Dr. Steve Horan '72 is the Acting Branch Head at the NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia. A graduate of Franklin & Marshall College and New Mexico State University, Dr. Horan has degrees in Physics, Astronomy and Electrical Engineering.

Jason Andrechak ’13

Named a National Merit Finalist and recently nominated for a National Honor Society scholarship, Senior Leader Jason Andrechak has achieved considerable academic success at Archmere Academy. He has taken twelve Advanced Placement courses during his time at Archmere and was named an AP Scholar with Distinction as a junior.

Particularly talented in mathematics and science, Jason is a member of the Science Olympiad Team, the Science National Honor Society and TEAMS (Test of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science), and hopes to one day pursue a career in engineering. “I’ve always been pretty good at math and science,” says Jason, whose parents are both chemical engineers. “They interest me because they make sense.”

On Archmere’s Career Experience Day, Jason had the opportunity to shadow an alumnus at an engineering firm. He has narrowed his interests down to either chemical or biomedical engineering and is looking forward to making his college decision soon. His top choices are MIT, Berkley, and Georgia Tech.

Jason is also a member of the National Honor Society and the National French Honor Society, and participated in a foreign exchange with a student from France. His French teacher, Madame Cooper, as well as his English Teacher, Mr. Dougherty, are among those he identifies as some of his favorite teachers. “They are dynamic and enthusiastic about what they do,” says Jason, “which makes their classes enjoyable.”

In addition to his academic commitments, Jason is a Kairos Retreat Senior Leader at Archmere, a Eucharistic minister and a lector, and an Eagle Scout. He is also a defensive player for the AUKS varsity boys’ soccer team, which went to the state tournament this past season, and is a member of both the boys’ track and swim teams.

“In addition to the academics, I like the community aspect of Archmere,” says Jason. “It feels like home here.”

Steve Horan ‘72

Assistant Acting Branch Head at NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia, Dr. Steve Stephen Horan '72 has degrees in Physics, Astronomy and Electrical Engineering. He has worked for NASA or on NASA-based research since 1979.

“I originally wanted to go into the field of Astronomy, but changed to engineering in graduate school,” says Dr. Horan, adding that his interest in the sciences began in grade school and was enhanced at Archmere.

“I had Father Sliben for three or four years in math, and he was very influential in my learning,” says Dr. Horan. “Yet just as important was the Archmere curriculum’s emphasis on writing – even in a math and science heavy field like engineering, writing skills are invaluable, and I’ve kept a lot of what I learned at Archmere with me.”

As a student, Dr. Horan worked on the student newspaper, The Green Arch, and was the editor during his senior year. He was also a member of the yearbook staffactive in the theater, and participated in freshman track and intramural bowling.

After graduation, he went on to Franklin & Marshall College, where he earned a Bachelor’s in physics and was awarded a Pennsylvania Secondary School Teaching Certificate in physics. He then earned a Master’s in Astronomy, a Master’s in electrical Engineering, and a PhD in electrical engineering at New Mexico State University.

Dr. Horan taught as a member of the electrical and computer engineering faculty at New Mexico State University, and has authored a number of books, chapters and articles. He is a senior member of both the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and has volunteered his time as a paper and textbook reviewer for several works in the field.

In addition to his work at NASA, Dr. Horan has also served as an external PhD committee member for North Carolina State University, and is an ABET Program Evaluator. ABET is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that accredits college and university programs in the disciplines of applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. In his role, Dr. Horan travels to colleges and universities to evaluate and assess their programs for accreditation.

For students interested in pursuing a career in engineering, Dr. Horan has this advice: “It comes down to the mathematics and the fundamentals. Be as proficient as you can in math – it will set you apart in college when you begin working toward your engineering degree.”

He also encourages female students with an interest in engineering to pursue it, calling it an “unbalanced field.” “It’s very important for young women to realize that the field is open to them, too,” he says.

After living in New Mexico for thirty-three years, Dr. Horan and his wife, Dr. Sheila Horan, now reside in Poquoson, Virginia.

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