Zoe Learner Ponterio, manager of the Spacecraft Planetary Image Facility (SPIF), and SPIF itself have been awarded the inaugural Changemaker Award by the Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways. The award will be presented on May 4 at their LGBTQ+ Family Day of Visibility.

Credit: Provided

Ponterio’s support “has been invaluable in growing the quality of programming offered at Camp Beyond Binary, to our families during our first all-family camp in fall,” said Emery Grant, Beyond Program director. “The experiments in the STEM lab, the outstanding presentations about careers, and the fascinating time at SPIF were all generous contributions toward a tremendously affirming and supportive environment for Beyond's LGBTQ+ youth and their families.”

As part of their management responsibilities, Ponterio serves as outreach coordinator for SPIF’s outreach services and PreK-12 educational support throughout the Central New York region, and beyond. SPIF has been operating for more than four decades and is currently sponsored by the Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science. 

Read the full story on the College of Arts and Sciences website.