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John Veracka, aerospace physiology junior at Embry-Riddle.

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Volusia student-researcher presents on national stage

John Veracka’s research project was one of 60 chosen in the national 2021 Posters on the Hill research conference.

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Aerospace physiology junior John Veracka recently gave tips to a freshman biology class for how to get started on a research project.

“Reach out,” he said. “Ask questions. Set up a meeting with a faculty member. If you make the extra effort, take the extra step, work hard and ask important questions, then you will be rewarded. You will be able to conduct amazing research here at Embry-Riddle.”

Veracka knows this personally.

A recent research project of his, focused on a new polymer for use in aerospace settings and soft electronics, was one of just 60 undergraduate students chosen from among hundreds of entries in the national 2021 Posters on the Hill undergraduate research conference, which took place April 27-28.

Veracka’s work aims to develop a material that can stretch and self-heal, two characteristics that are somewhat opposed to each other, he said. By finding just the right balance in the chemical components of the material, he envisions a wide range of applications, including self-healing space habitats that would be resilient against space debris and damage.

His project was funded by the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program through Embry-Riddle’s Office of Undergraduate Research.

The Ormond Beach native came to Embry-Riddle as a computer science student but was soon lured to the aerospace physiology program, where he has taken advantage of opportunities to assist local COVID-19 contact tracing and vaccination efforts, and has shadowed health providers at two different hospitals. Having witnessed countless procedures including an angiography, in which dye is pumped into the heart to reveal its arteries and veins, and a bladder-removal surgery, Veracka is intent on attending medical school and becoming a physician, perhaps a surgeon.

“Now I know for a fact that medicine is something I want to do,” he said.

At the same time, he works on campus as a resident advisor, a chemistry tutor and a chemistry laboratory assistant — in addition to performing research. Posters on the Hill was his fourth conference this semester, Veracka said.

“John directs so much energy to his field of study and numerous related activities,” said Dr. Karen Gaines, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “With that kind of enthusiasm, there’ll be no limit to what he can accomplish.”

Referring to his polymer research, he points out that existing self-healing materials often require very low or very high temperatures, plus their selfhealing abilities occur only after being subjected to UV light or a chemical catalyst. The material Veracka aims to develop, he said, “can work by itself,” and therefore could be useful in a much broader range of applications. Initial uses could include car paint, phones and diabetic sensors, he said.

“I’m extremely passionate about my research and I am very excited to see where the project can go,” Veracka said.

“I’m extremely passionate about my research, and I am very excited to see where the project can go.”

Aerospace physiology junior JOHN VERACKA

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MAY 27, 2021

SPORTS

Seabreeze replacement quarterback Dimitri Campbell shows his athleticism during the spring game against Westside.

Photos by Michele Meyers Pass interference leads to a Westside interception.

Tashod Troutman

Spring tuneup

Seabreeze head coach Pat Brown remains optimistic about the team’s 2021 fall season following the loss to Westside and the loss of their quarterback in the first quarter.

MICHELE MEYERS

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Seabreeze Sandcrabs varsity football team walked away with a 14-7 loss and an injured quarterback after facing the Westside Wolverines Thursday, May 20, at the Daytona Municipal Stadium.

Quarterback Blake Boda’s firstquarter injury forced Seabreeze head coach Pat Brown to reassess his game strategy. After conferring with his coaches, the choice was clear: All-Area safety senior Dimitri Campbell stepped in and became Boda’s replacement.

“He’s the best all around football player in this area,” Brown said. “He can throw, he can run, he can tackle, he can cover and he has a worker’s mindset. That’s what I love about him. He’s not the biggest guy in the world but he just keeps on working it. I know some of these college coaches are going to take intents to him.”

Brown has been developing the football program ever since he set foot on campus in January 2019 and inherited their 1-9 record. Currently, his regular seasons’ record is a combined 9-9, and, in an uncertain COVID-19 year riddled with cancellations, the Sandcrabs won a playoff game against Gulf Breeze last year. Brown was also named Florida Athletic Coaches Association 6A District 9 Coach of the Year in 2020.

The Westside Wolverines were relentless in their drive down field, scoring a touchdown in the first quarter by Deshard Wescott and another touchdown in the fourth quarter after a 53-yard run by Dijon Gillins.

Faced with a 14-0 deficit, the Seabreeze coaches opted to put All-State kicker and punter Mac Chiumento in as an emergency quarterback. Chiumento threw a 40-yard pass completion to Tayshawn Galery. He then followed it up with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Tashod Troutman and kicked the extra point, bringing the final score to 14-7.

“The cohesiveness of this team is very special,” Brown said. “They had their quarterback go down in the first quarter, and they made it a game throughout the whole game. Had them on eggshells. You take away a starting high school quarterback, and 99% of them can’t come back and win the game. We got a real tough group. They are used to adversity.”