Fri. Apr 26th, 2024

Wallace State student selected to visit NASA in June

HANCEVILLE, Ala. — TRIO/Student Support Services Jon Elliott of Wallace State Community College has been selected to travel to NASA’s Stennis Space Center this summer to participate in the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) onsite experience.

Elliott has been selected as one of 403 community college students from across the United State to be a part of the NCAS onsite experience.

The five-week online activity culminates with a four-day on-site event as a NASA Center and offer students the opportunity to interact with NASA engineers and others as they learn more about careers in science and engineering. While at NASA, students form teams and establish fictional companies interested in Mars exploration. Each team is responsible for developing testing a prototype rover, forming a company infrastructure, managing a budget, and develop communications and outreach.

The onsite experience at NASA includes briefings by NASA subject matter experts, information on how to apply for internships and a tour of NASA’s unique facilities.

NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars is an activity funded in part by the Minority University Research and Education Program, or MUREP, which is committed to engaging underrepresented and underserved students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in authentic learning experiences to sustain a diverse workforce.

With this activity, NASA continues the agency’s tradition engaging the nation in NASA’s mission.

“NCAS not only inspires community college students to advance in STEM fields, but it also opens doors for future careers at NASA. NCAS has a legacy of alumni moving from NASA internships to and ultimately entering the NASA workforce. It is rewarding to see the progression of a student from NCAS participant to NASA colleague,” Joeletta Patrick, Minor University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Manager.

For additional information, please contact National Community College Aerospace Scholars email at JSC-NCAS@mail.nasa.gov or by phone at 281-483-0493. For more information, visit http://ncas.aerospacescholars.org/