NCAS students show that hard work can get you places (like here)

2016-07-28

NASA’s Office of Education is full of success stories, and the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) program takes great pride in its share. On July 22, NCAS celebrated 11 alumni interning at Johnson Space Center this summer. The group—most still wearing their team’s polos—gathered in the Building 3 café for a celebratory lunch organized by NCAS Activity Manager Alicia Baturoni Cortez.

Representing schools anywhere from San Jacinto Community College in Pasadena, Texas, to Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California, these 11 ambitious students have a lot to be proud of. The NCAS program is a rigorous, five-week online course available for community college students to take in addition to their collegiate studies. Sound like a lot of work? It is.

“This is what distinguishes the students who can handle the extra workload, and that’s who you see rise to the top,” said Veronica Seyl, JSC’s Internships, Fellowships and Scholarships lead.

Following their successful completion of the online portion of NCAS, selected participants are invited to a four-day on-site workshop at a nearby NASA center. Once on-site, the students enjoy tours and attend lectures, including one from the internship team encouraging students to apply. In addition, students put the skills they learned to the test by designing a LEGO Mars rover and competing to retrieve objects on simulated terrain.

The alumni represent a variety of majors, studying disciplines like electrical, chemical, mechanical and computer engineering, atmospheric science and biotechnology. Their enthusiasm to be working at NASA was evident as they shared the projects they have undertaken this semester.

“Right now, we’re addressing an issue in Node 1 of the ISS [International Space Station] where there isn’t communication available with the astronauts,” said intern Cynthia Yu.

She went on to describe how unique her internship has been, especially compared to those of her friends back home.

“I get to work on a project that will go into outer space,” Yu said.

You’ll find NCAS interns in places like the Microbiology Lab, Technology Transfer Office, Guidance and Navigation, Crew and Thermal Systems and other departments and labs.

Chad Shultz, a summer and fall 2016 intern, said NCAS is what piqued his mentor’s curiosity—that the program was “what really stood out on [his] application.”

Concluding their celebratory meal, the students were surprised with snacks and a sheet cake for dessert. The words “Living the dream!” were iced on top.

If you were to ask any of these 11 hardworking students, they would agree that their NASA internship certainly echoes that exclamation.

Do you know any students who could thrive with NCAS? Applications for the spring 2017 program are open on this website in September.

You can see posts from current and former NCAS students by visiting this link.

Interested in an intern? Submit your project now for spring 2017 internships here.

Leah Cheshier

NASA Johnson Space Center

NCAS Activity Manager Alicia Baturoni Cortez surprised the students with a cake after lunch to celebrate their summer internships following successful completion of the NCAS program. Image Credit: NASA

Baturoni Cortez, left, and JSC Internships, Fellowships and Scholarships Lead Veronica Seyl make a connection between NCAS and JSC internships. Image Credit: NASA

Students bought or brought their lunches to Building 3 for an opportunity to connect with other NCAS alumni and program leaders. Image Credit: NASA