Hometown Hero: Donald Knapp

For Donald Knapp, every day at work is an out-of-this-world adventure.

Knapp has been serving the Centennial School District for nearly 25 years as the director of multimedia experiences; he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in astrophysics from Indiana University and a master’s degree in Education.

Knapp completed his studies in the 1960s, at about the same time the space program was up and coming in America. He took an astronomy course in college and decided he liked it.

“I really hadn’t thought about a career in planetariums,” Knapp said.

 Following his graduation, jobs within school and museum planetariums were on the rise, according to Knapp. He first became involved with managing a planetarium as the director within the Bart Consolidated School Corporation in Indiana in 1972.

“They were looking for a director and I was looking for a job,” Knapp said. “So we matched up.”

Knapp held other planetarium director positions in New York and even Virginia before settling at Centennial. As the planetarium director for Centennial, Knapp is indeed busy. Not only does he teach discovery science classes at William Tennent High School, but he is also responsible for planning programs within Centennial's Special Experience Room, which was built in 1969 at the McDonald-Davis Elementary School.

Teachers can submit requests for special programs and Knapp will develop a schedule and design a program that incorporates the wonders of space and astronomy throughout the year. The programs are often centered around holidays, like “Season of the Light,” which highlights the traditions of the Romans, Greeks and Babylonians and a Black History Month program that helps viewers find their way north with the help of the big dipper. These multimedia programs incorporate videos, songs, images and depictions created by the star projector, the SciDome.

“I try to have a program for every grade level,” Knapp said. He even designs presentations for the public

Although the possibilities of exploring space are endless, Knapp said that a critical point to the position and his studies include “keeping abreast of science and the discovery of new planets.”

“Almost every day you’ll find something new you want to incorporate,” he said.

In addition, Knapp’s said that when planning programs, time and set-up are considerable factors in the process.

But, the heart of the program is the real reward.

“I get to work under the stars  even though I’m indoors and it’s light out,” he said.

And, of course, the learning experiences involved heighten the benefit of his work in that he is happy to know that students are able to enjoy and learn something during the programs.

Since the McDonald-Elementary school will be demolished in 2012, this translates into changes for the planetarium. The new 'Special Experiences Room' and Planetarium will be located at William Tennent High School in a twenty-first century learning lab, the “distance learning center.” The SciDome will be brought along as well as the components to operate it. However, the dome, lighting and sound systems will be all new.

Knapp enjoys all kinds of exploring. An Indiana native and now a resident of West Chester, Knapp and his wife still enjoy going out west to ride horses. They also enjoy relaxing at home, listening to audio books. Currently, Knapp likes to read works by Jason Ford, who writes literary science fiction pieces.

In addition, Knapp likes to watch spectator sports including NASCAR and college basketball. He was also not afraid to admit his most embarrassing song on his iPod entitled “Christmas with the Family” which always makes him laugh.