ECC aeronautics student rockets off to NASA for onsite experience

Elgin Community College student Adam Pillari has been selected to travel to NASA's Langley Research Center to participate in the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars onsite experience April 14-17.

Pillari has been selected as one of 403 community college students from across the U.S. to be part of the NCAS onsite experience.

The five-week online activity culminates with the four-day on-site event at a NASA Center and offers 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.

The onsite experience at NASA includes briefings by experts, information on how to apply for internships and a tour of NASA's unique facilities.

NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars is an activity funded in part by the Minority University Research and Education Program, or MUREP, which is committed to engaging underrepresented and underserved students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in authentic learning experiences to sustain a diverse workforce.

With this activity, NASA continues the agency's tradition engaging the nation in NASA's mission.

"NCAS not only inspires community college students to advance in STEM fields, but it also opens doors for future careers at NASA," said Joeletta Patrick, Minority University Research and Education Project manager. "NCAS has a legacy of alumni moving from NASA internships to and ultimately entering the NASA workforce. It is rewarding to see the progression of a student from NCAS participant to NASA colleague."

For additional information, contact National Community College Aerospace Scholars at JSC-NCAS@mail.nasa.gov or by phone at (281) 483-0493. For more information, visit ncas.aerospacescholars.org.

For more on the Minority University Research and Education Program, visit www.nasa.gov/education/murep.