Skip to main content

MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Engineering Science Student Kristen Egan Participates in NASA Workshop


MCC sophomore Kristen Egan  is one of 240 select U.S. community college students who participated in the National Community College Aerospace Scholars project (NCAS) at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, based on her scores in an online NASA course and final project. 

The five-week scholars program culminated with a three-day, on-site event at Johnson Space Center in April, offering students the opportunity to interact with NASA engineers and others as they learn more about careers in science and engineering. While at NASA, students form teams and establish fictional companies interested in Mars exploration. Each team is responsible for developing and testing a prototype rover, forming a company infrastructure, managing a budget, and developing communications and outreach.

After previously earning a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts and being an AmeriCorps member, Egan will graduate from MCC with an associate degree in mechanical engineering on May 30. She plans to transfer and pursue a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering.

“NASA was great at highlighting the skills and qualifications you can develop at community colleges,” said Egan. “Community college students have and can provide what NASA is interested in. … Working for NASA doesn’t seem like a pipe dream anymore.”

Egan was selected the most valuable member of her NASA team. As a reward for managing communications and outreach for the team, she was rewarded with a medallion produced from a piece of the Mars rover Curiosity.

The National Community College Aerospace Scholars is designed to encourage community and junior college students to enter careers in science and engineering. The program is directly tied to NASA's major education goal of attracting and retaining students in STEM disciplines critical to the agency’s future missions.

Rosanna Yule
Marketing and Community Relations
05/05/2015


Attachments:
icon MCC_Egan_Kristen_Engineering_NASA.JPG