Failure not an option for SU senior Brad Foreman

Shippensburg University senior Bradley Foreman is the 2018 winner of the Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence from Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.

Foreman, a physics major with minors in biology, chemistry, mathematics, French, Spanish and military science, earned a $1,000 cash prize with the award. The Board of Governors recognized his accomplishments at its quarterly meeting. He expects to graduate in May and has a current overall GPA of 3.8 and has made the Dean’s List every semester since his freshman year.

Foreman’s academic journey has not been an easy one, but the Apollo 13 sweatshirt he wears for every major exam and the quote it bears “failure is not an option,” perfectly embodies his journey.

Foreman graduated from high school at the age of 16 and set off to college in Seattle. Unsuccessful at this first attempt at college, he joined the Maryland Army National Guard and served as a Blackhawk helicopter repair specialist.

Eventually convinced by his brother to give college another shot, Foreman applied to Shippensburg University. Knowing his grades from his past attempts would not appeal to Ship, he put great effort into his application essay and soon found a home at Ship.

Foreman interned for two summers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Ames Research Center in California. As a research intern during his first summer there, he worked with NASA scientists on experiments relating to the effect of microgravity on biological processes. Last summer, he served as the center’s deputy director of military programs. During that time he oversaw processing, met administrative needs and provided mentorship for all military program interns. He also spent part of last summer studying in France.

Hoping to land a career in the astronautical industry, he translated “The Astronaut Instruction Manual,” a pre-teen book, into Spanish to help expand the impact of underrepresented communities in the space industry.

Among his other activities, Foreman served as a volunteer coordinator for a candidate for Seattle City Council and worked as a cook, janitor and teacher at El Rancho San Juan Bosco, an orphanage housing 50 boys in Tecate, Mexico.

Foreman started the first Spanish program on the university’s student radio station, WSYC-88.7. He reported current events relating to Latino culture, including politics, sports and entertainment. He also worked as the web editor for the campus newspaper, The Slate. His passion for academics and service at Ship is rivaled only by his commitment to raising his daughter.

In May, after four years as an ROTC cadet, Foreman will be commissioned a second lieutenant in the military intelligence branch.