NASA bound:

Student mission complete

LSC-Online Students over the moon to successfully complete two missions for national NASA program

Computer Science students Alyssa Perry and Ramon Rodriguez are blasting off to new heights after completing two missions in the prestigious NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) program, which boosts STEM skills for stellar careers.

Mission 1: Discover. They were both selected from over 2,000 students from across the US, they spent five weeks learning about NASA’s plans and created an out-of-this-world infographic.

Ramon Rodriguez, Mission 2 patch

“I met some extraordinary people. Throughout that week we had several meetings when we were told about internship opportunities, it made that experience wonderful.

I’ve improved my time management and communication skills. It made me more open to speaking to people and helped me overcome my nervousness meeting new people. It inspired me to apply to NASA and keep pursuing Computer Science.

Ramon Rodriguez, Computer Science student

Mission 2: Explore. Narrowed to 300 students, they joined teams to tackle a simulated lunar mission, designing solutions and simulating NASA roles. They really rocketed through this challenge!

Now, they await news on advancing to the third mission, a weeklong trip to a NASA Field Center. They're shooting for the moon!

Alyssa, who also serves as Vice President of the LSC-Online Women in STEM Club and is the Secretary of the AI Computer Science Club, has shared some of her amazing campaign work with us from Mission 2.

Mission 2, "did you know" campaign video

“We had days where we got to meet with NASA employees for networking. As a science communication specialist, I got to talk with actual NASA communication specialists to learn about the job and how they got there. I learned a lot, it made me want to focus more on computer science and keep up with my programming.

Alyssa Perry, Computer Science student

Mission 2, public outreach campaign

“Programs like NCAS offer hands-on experience, mentorship, and networking that can significantly enhance a student’s education and career trajectory.

By working on real-world problems alongside industry experts, students gain valuable skills and a sense of purpose, inspiring them to tackle global challenges with innovation and resilience, ultimately preparing them to become the next generation of leaders.”

LSC-Online Computer Science Professor, Dr. Javaher,