Contact: Ann Hatch
214-378-1819;
ahatch@dcccd.edu
For immediate release — June 5, 2015
Deadline to register: June 24, 2015, at 5 p.m.
(DALLAS) — The space/time continuum for Dallas County Community College District students starts now — especially if they want to launch themselves into an opportunity to explore STEM careers this fall at NASA in Houston.
The NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program is accepting applications from DCCCD students until 5 p.m. on June 24.
Students must apply online by submitting a form provided on NASA’s website at http://ncas.aerospacescholars.org. For more information about DCCCD's process, visit http://dcccd.info/NASA-NCAS-2015.
The NASA scholars program for community college students gives participants a chance to take a voyage of exploration to learn about space and how science, technology, engineering and mathematics will help them find jobs and careers in a field that changes and evolves each day.
Students will get hands-on experience in two ways when they become NCAS scholars: through interactive, Web-based activities and an on-site experience at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. They will be able to choose one of four three-day trips to JSC in Houston this fall, from mid-October until early December. In Houston at NASA JSC, scholars will participate in a team project directed by NASA engineers, attend astronaut briefings and tour JSC facilities.
NASA provides transportation, meals, lodging and supplies at no cost to students who are selected for the program from colleges in the DCCCD system. NCAS is funded by the state of Texas, administered by NASA JSC and supported by the San Jacinto College District. DCCCD also will pay for the cost of registration, which is $30, once students’ forms are returned, the online modules are completed and the district’s NASA scholars are selected.
Students must be enrolled at a DCCCD college for a minimum of nine credit hours. Many participants have a strong background in computers and/or science and engineering, but only nine credit hours in STEM-related courses is required.
“Students who apply and complete the online modules will attend the NASA Houston experience. They will learn about NASA internships, fellowships, scholarships and other educational opportunities at NASA JSC and other NASA centers,” said Perla Molina, director of outreach. “They also will have the opportunity to experience engineering first-hand by working with engineers and scientists.”
Eligible DCCCD students/participants must:
- Be a U.S. citizen;
- Be at least 18 years of age and a high school graduate or equivalent;
- Be a registered community college student during the spring 2015 semester, prior to the on-site workshop (part-time and full-time students are encouraged to apply);
- Be able to commit to an on-site experience at NASA JSC during the fall 2015 semester;
- Be concurrently enrolled in or have completed nine or more credit hours of STEM coursework;
- Be able to commit to a five-week online session; and
- Have Internet access.
Interested applicants should know that the NCAS program involves 12 to 15 hours of online pre-work (before they go to Houston) and interaction with other participants. Applicants must complete the online modules and earn a passing grade of 70 percent to be selected for the actual trip to JSC in the fall.
“DCCCD’s participation in NCAS encourages our students to take a leadership role in their educational environment,” said Molina, who coordinates the NCAS program for the DCCCD system. The district has participated in NCAS for 14 years and has sent more than 200 students to Houston for the program.
For more information, contact Molina by email at
pmolina@dcccd.edu or by phone at 214-378-1771.
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