Editing Roger B. Chaffee (section)

===Education===
Chaffee attended the Dickinson School in Grand Rapids,{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2008|p=136}} and later graduated from [[Central High School (Grand Rapids, Michigan)|Central High School]] in the top 20% of his class in 1953.{{sfn|Chrysler|Chaffee|1968|p=43}} Turning down a possible appointment to the [[United States Naval Academy]] at [[Annapolis, Maryland]], he accepted a [[Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps]] (NROTC) scholarship, and in September 1953 enrolled at the [[Illinois Institute of Technology]]. He performed well, making the [[Dean's List]] and finishing with a B+ average. While enrolled, he joined [[Phi Kappa Sigma]].<ref name="history.nasa.gov">{{cite web|url=https://history.nasa.gov/Apollo204/zorn/chaffee.htm|title=Detailed Biographies of Apollo I Crew – Roger Chaffee|last=White|first=Mary|publisher=NASA|access-date=June 3, 2016|date=August 4, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604142258/https://history.nasa.gov/Apollo204/zorn/chaffee.htm|archive-date=June 4, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

Chaffee was passionate about flying, and had a strong aptitude for science and engineering. To apply those talents, he transferred to [[Purdue University]] in the autumn of 1954 to attend the school's well-known [[aeronautical engineering]] program.<ref name="history.nasa.gov" /> Before arriving in [[West Lafayette, Indiana|West Lafayette]], he reported for an 8-week tour on {{USS|Wisconsin|BB-64|6}} as a part of the NROTC program. To qualify, he had to finish training and pass further tests. He initially failed the eye exam, but the physician permitted him to retake it the next morning, and he passed. He was then allowed to tour on ''Wisconsin'' to [[England]], [[Scotland]], [[France]], and [[Cuba]]. Upon his return to American soil, he worked as a gear cutter.<ref name="history.nasa.gov" />

After starting classes at Purdue, Chaffee sought out a job to complement his coursework and involvement in the Phi Kappa Sigma social fraternity. His first job during his sophomore year was working as a server at one of the women's residences, but he disliked the job and sought new employment. He was hired as a [[draftsman]] at a small business near Purdue. As a [[Junior (education year)|junior]], he was hired as a teaching assistant in the Mathematics Department to teach classes to [[freshman]] students.<ref name="history.nasa.gov" /> He was elected to the [[Tau Beta Pi]] national engineering honor society which is equivalent to [[Phi Beta Kappa]] in the non-engineering disciplines,  and [[Sigma Gamma Tau]] engineering honor societies.<ref name="chaffee space">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/chaffee_roger_0.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/chaffee_roger_0.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |title=Biographical Data: Roger B. Chaffee (Lieutenant Commander, USN) NASA Astronaut (Deceased)|date= December 1997|publisher=NASA |access-date=January 11, 2021}}</ref>
In 1955, Chaffee took four flying lessons, but he did not have enough money to get his [[private pilot's license]]. Two years later, the NROTC sponsored flight training for him to become a [[naval aviator]]. He soloed on March 29, 1957, and obtained his private pilot's license on May 24, 1957.{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2008|pp=138–139}} He earned a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree, with distinction, in aeronautical engineering at Purdue in 1957.{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2008|p=140}}