SPC Student Selected to Participate in NASA Virtual Experience

St. Philip’s College student Jaime Lopez Jr. was selected by the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) to participate in the NCAS Mission 2: Exploration Simulation from April 17, 2024, through April 24, 2024.

Jaime’s successful completion of a five-week online NCAS course earned them a spot to participate. Jaime is one of hundreds of community college students from across the country to participate in the virtual experience.

Selected students learned more about NASA’s missions and careers in science and engineering throughout the virtual experience. Students formed teams and designed a mission to explore the Moon or Mars. Each student joined a design team, fulfilled a team role, managed a budget, and developed communication and outreach strategies. Students also attended events hosted by NASA subject matter experts, received information on how to apply for NASA internships, and virtually toured NASA’s unique facilities.

“I was the project manager of a team. It was my job to coordinate everything, like a conductor for a symphony. It was amazing. People always say you know you have found the career you’re meant for when you know you would do it for free. That’s how I felt about this experience,” said Jaime.

With this activity, NASA continues the tradition of engaging the nation in its mission of human exploration and sustainable expansion across the solar system, and bringing new knowledge and opportunities back to Earth.

“NCAS inspires community college students to advance in STEM fields, and it also opens doors for future careers at NASA. NCAS alumni can often move on to NASA internships and possibly enter the NASA workforce. It is rewarding to see the progression of a student from NCAS participant to NASA colleague,” said Torry Johnson, former Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Manager. 

For more information, visit: https://go.nasa.gov/ncas

Source: NASA