John Hodge II, winner of Astronomical League Award John Hodge II, a graduate of Spring Valley High School, is the 2008 winner of the National Young Astronomer Award given by the Astronomical League. His research project was entitled "Light Curve Analysis of Cataclysmic Variable Star Systems: Cam Var 06, FS Aur. HT Cas, IP Peg. and EQ Aqr."

At Bethune Observers Group facility, he created light curves and determined the orbital period of selected cataclysmic variable stars using photometry to measure short term changes in brightness. He was able to determine the eclipse of the white dwarf by the red dwarf and to identify the bright spot.

Hodge won an all- expense- paid trip to the Astronomical League's annual convention in July in Des Moines, Iowa. At the convention, he will receive a League plaque, a complimentary membership in the International Dark Sky Association, and a $3,000 telescope.

The young astronomer, who is also a baseball pitcher and Eagle Scout, has won numerous awards for his astrophysics work. He will attend Duke University in the fall where he will major in engineering and physics. His parents are John and Sharon Hodge.