![\"NASA](\"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/81\/2015\/06\/NASA-Tran.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAustin Community College students interested in a unique opportunity to interact with NASA scientists and engineers may apply now for NASA\u2019s National Community College Aerospace Scholars project (NCAS). The program is open to part-time and full-time students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Applications for fall are accepted through June 24.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are the opportunities that can launch a new direction for students who aren\u2019t quite sure what STEM path they want to take,\u201d says Dr. James E. Heath, ACC Physics Department chair. \u201cTo work alongside NASA\u2019s lead engineers and scientists is something that they\u2019ll treasure for the rest of their lives.<\/p>\n
ACC students Tara Tomlinson and Nghiem\u00a0Tran were among 240 community college students nationwide accepted into the five-week program in spring.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose three days are among the best days of my life,\u201d says Tran. \u201cGetting a chance to learn directly from NASA engineers and work firsthand with their equipment was incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n
The NCAS project included a three-day workshop at NASA where students form teams, establish fictional companies interested in Mars exploration, and design and build a prototype rover.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpace exploration has always been my passion, but I didn\u2019t follow my heart at first,\u201d says Tomlinson. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t until I turned 30 that I realized I could change my path. So I enrolled at ACC for a chance to start over.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tomlinson is 20 hours shy of her associate degree and plans to continue working toward her masters in astrophysics.<\/p>\n
Tran is completing his final coursework during summer sessions and will transfer to a university in fall.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy professors are the ones who encouraged me to apply for the program. I wouldn\u2019t have had this experience if it weren\u2019t for ACC,\u201d says Tran.<\/p>\n
For more information visit ncas.aerospacescholars.org<\/a>. All applicants must be students at ACC. To register for fall classes visit austincc.edu\/fall<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Austin Community College students interested in a unique opportunity to interact with NASA scientists and engineers may apply now for NASA\u2019s National Community College Aerospace Scholars project (NCAS). The program is open to part-time and … Continue reading