Paige Kassalen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paige Kassalen
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Kassalen working with Solar Impulse 2 in 2016
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| Born | May 19, 1993 (age 32) |
| Alma mater | Virginia Tech, Carnegie Mellon |
| Occupation | Electrical engineer |
| Known for | Only American and youngest member of the ground crew for the Solar Impulse 2 project |
Paige Kassalen is an American electrical engineer. She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When she was 22 years old, Paige became a key part of the Solar Impulse 2 project. She was the only American, and the youngest person, on the ground crew for this amazing solar-powered plane.
In 2017, Paige was recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. This list highlights young people who are making a big difference. After her work with Solar Impulse, Paige helped a company called Covestro. She worked on ideas for materials used in self-driving cars. She also shared her work at different conferences across the United States.
Early Life and Education
Paige Kassalen grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She finished high school at Mt. Lebanon High School in 2011.
Paige went to Virginia Tech for college. In 2015, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. After graduating, she started working full-time at Covestro, a company that makes chemicals.
Later, in 2020, Paige continued her studies. She earned a Master of Information Systems Management degree from Carnegie Mellon. While studying there, she also worked at the Carnegie Mellon Metro21: Smart Cities Institute.
Working with Solar Impulse 2
Paige Kassalen got a special chance to join the Solar Impulse 2 team. Her company, Covestro, was a partner in the project. This partnership created a spot for someone from Covestro to join the flight team.
Paige applied for this exciting role. In February 2016, she was chosen to be part of the ground crew. At just 22 years old, she was the youngest person on the team. She was also the only American woman working on the ground crew.
As a member of the ground crew, Paige had important jobs. She helped fix any electrical problems on the solar-powered aircraft. She also played a big part in helping the plane land safely. Her work helped the Solar Impulse 2 complete its historic flight around the world using only solar power.
