STEM today, NASA tomorrow
Entrance to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Photo credit to Raniero Tazzi.
The Ventura College STEM program would like to extend a hearty round of congratulations to Rick Peters for qualifying to participate in an upcoming NASA project. In the third week of May, Rick will embark on an all-expense paid trip to Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas. During Rick’s three-day stay, he and a group of his peers will work alongside NASA engineers designing robotic rovers.
Rick’s journey actually began months ago when he took up the challenge of completing a series of rigorous, web-based assignments administered by NASA. In order to qualify for the trip to Texas, Rick had to complete the assignments with a grade of 95 or better. Of the students who began the assignments, only seventy-six made the grade, Rick being one of them.
The Johnson Space Center trip is the crowning achievement for students who successfully competed in the National Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) pilot program. This program specifically targets community college students throughout the United States because of the huge talent pool this group of students represents. Just like the Ventura College STEM Program, the NCAS pilot program is designed to encourage community college students to consider a STEM major. As Rick illustrates, Ventura College students are nationally competitive and fully capable of taking the lead in STEM fields.
So, once again, congratulations Rick Peters! The next generation of Spirit and Opportunity await you.
