Community College Scholars From 28 States Will Visit Johnson
Space Center
Seventy-six students from community colleges in 28 states and
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have been selected to travel to
NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, May 20-22, to participate
in a three-day on-site event to develop robotic explorers that will
rove the surfaces of other worlds.
This event is the culmination of the National Community College
Aerospace Scholars pilot program. Students completed four Web-based
assignments during the school year. Those who maintained a 95
average qualified for the experience at Johnson. NASA will pay the
students' travel expenses. They will apply what they have learned
during the year after interacting with NASA engineers and learn
more about careers in science and engineering.
Program participants will form teams and establish fictitious
companies interested in Mars exploration during the event. Each
team will be responsible for developing a prototype rover,
designing a line drawing of their rover, and forming a company
infrastructure, including budget, communications and presentations.
The on-site experience includes a tour of Johnson facilities and
briefings from NASA employees, including astronauts.
"This represents another innovative NASA project whereby
community college students engage in actual engineering design and
production - from concept to build-out - that simulate the process
NASA uses in designing robotic explorers for solar system
destinations," said Joyce Winterton, associate administrator for
Education at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "It successfully
demonstrates and furthers the participants' academic knowledge in
science, technology, engineering and mathematics."
The students represent Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California,
Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky,
Mississippi, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico,
New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
"NASA is very proud of the outstanding work these students
already have completed, and we look forward to seeing their rover
designs," said Deborah Hutchings, the program manager at Johnson.
"These students have a unique opportunity to preview how a career
in science, technology, engineering or math can lead them on a
journey of space exploration."
The National Community College Aerospace Scholars is a pilot
program based on the Texas Aerospace Scholars, a program created by
the state of Texas in partnership with Johnson and the Texas
education community. Both programs are designed to encourage
community and junior college students to enter careers in science
and engineering, and join the nation's high technology
workforce.
With this program, NASA continues the agency's investment in the
nation's students with a goal of attracting them to the science,
technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines critical to
NASA's future missions.