StartingOver the past two weeks, I first focused on acquiring a model kit of the U.S.S. San Francisco. After researching all available sources to find the most cost-efficient and reliable vendor, I completed the paperwork to officially requisition the kit. I also decided to upgrade the kit with aftermarket photo-etch parts, which I acquired independently and applied for reimbursement on. I've had a hard time finding the right paint for it, as specialized model paint is very difficult to acquire in the United States, but if I can't find what I need, I should be able to mix my own from readily available colors at the cost of a degree of realism. My preliminary research on Schonland and McCandless has been similarly frustrating, so I hope to visit my local library to find information there, as well as reach out to the San Francisco Association, as I couldn't find any information on their web site. The Severn Alumni association will most likely end up being my most valuable source of information, as both men were Severn alumni and Alumni of the Year. I reached out to the Association to that end, but also to broach the topic of identifying Severn alumni to receive models. Until I can meet with Mrs. Grimes at some point later in the summer to discuss the topic further, the student and veteran side of the project will have to sit on the back burner. My immediate next steps are to finish designing my Fellows web site, reach out to the San Francisco Association, and begin construction of the San Francisco once it arrives in the mail. After finally doing some modelling after taking a break during the academic year, I am very excited to take on the San Francisco project this summer. Setting up my new workspace and working on my airbrush skills in preparation for the San Francisco project As a side project in my free time, I modified this kit of the U.S.S. Oliver Hazard Perry to turn it into the U.S.S. McClusky (the white paint will be masked to become the McClusky's flight deck and hull numbers), and will eventually give it to Vice Admiral (ret.) John Christenson, who commanded the McClusky.
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After the 2021 Leadership Lab, in which I set up my website and wrote a description of the project, I divided the project into four separate parts: the construction of a 1/350 model of the U.S.S. San Francisco, research into the lives and actions of Severn alumni Bruce McCandless and Herbert Schonland, coordination with a veterans' group to identify veterans to receive the models, and coordination with a student organization to identify students to build models. After some consideration, I made the strategic decision to simplify the project by having Severn students build models for Severn alumni who served, allowing for better coordination between the two sectors. While I will be away from my computer (and airbrush) for the next week to spend time with my family, I plan to immediately begin the process of acquiring a kit of the San Francisco when I get back. My short-term goals are to further improve my Fellows website and continue the preliminary research process, using government and library databases to paint a picture of Schonland and McCandless' lives. In the coming months, I plan to reach out to organizations like the U.S.S. San Francisco Memorial Foundation and Naval Institute to improve upon my research, speak with individuals at Severn to begin preliminary planning of a model-building event for Severn students, and begin construction of the San Francisco model, which I hope to finish by the end of the summer.
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Alex BreniaMy name is Alex Brenia, and I am a senior at Severn School. I am passionate about military history and service to veterans, as I come from a military family. I see this project as a unique opportunity to combine both of these interests, within the scope of the Severn community as a whole. Archives
September 2021
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