Seven Shasta College students are giving their education a rocket-like boost after having been selected to participate in a special NASA program. The NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) activity is comprised of three missions designed to challenge and build student knowledge and skills by focusing on NASA’s mission goals, collaboration, and career pathways.
Mission 1: Discover, is a 5-week, online course where students learn about NASA. STEM based activities include live and recorded expert lectures, interactions with other NCAS aerospace scholars, and knowledge assessments including a final project. Mission 2: Explore, is slated to launch in March-April where students will participate in a gamified mission to the Moon or Mars. Participants will also learn about NASA’s internship opportunities. Mission 3: Innovate, will take off in June-July and challenges students with two weeks of online preparation followed with one week at a NASA Field Center. Students will work to solve a current challenge being faced by NASA mission directorates and report out their solutions to a panel of NASA experts. Students must successfully complete each mission to be selected to advance to the next level.
Jessica Knight, Shasta College MESA Program Coordinator, highlighted the program’s selectivity, “Out of the thousands of students who apply from across the United States, only about 10% or less get selected to participate. The fact that we have seven students from Shasta is a testament to their dedication and passion for STEM,” said Knight. Candidates have to write a 300-word essay, fill out an application including their GPA and educational history, and send in transcripts. “Getting into the program is only the first step,” explained Knight, “Now the hard work begins with an intensive 5-week “mission” that students undertake on top of their already full-time coursework—which for some of these students is upwards of 17-18 units in STEM focused courses.”
“The students are all very familiar with each other and form a close and supportive team due to the MESA program,” said Knight. Three of the students, Hannah Watts, Lizzy Wyatt, and Jake Stroup, paused a recent study session to share their thoughts about the program. Studious by nature, the students were notably pensive when talking about the program, recognizing the hard work that faced them and the odds of being selected for the two future missions.
“I’m so honored to be given the chance to explore this STEM opportunity from NASA,” said student Lizzy Wyatt. “I love being able to use a combination of my education in engineering and graphic design within the program as well as learning how both of those fields are responsible for humanity’s knowledge of our solar system. This program has provided me with a community of peers with similar interests and goals at Shasta College and across the nation, and is encouraging me to pursue more opportunities in STEM fields.”
Another student, Jayson Garcia, summed up by saying, “I am very thankful that I was chosen for this opportunity with NASA. Learning more about their missions and gaining this hands-on experience has been truly inspiring.”
All of the students are part of a relatively new program at Shasta College called MESA which supports students pursuing four-year degrees in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Students enjoy early class registration, academic excellence workshops, a dedicated study space, priority academic counseling, and book and calculator rentals. Knight, who has led the program since its inception in 2023 through a five-year grant running until 2028, expressed pride in the students: “Although each one is remarkable, they are not unique in the MESA program. These students share a drive for excellence and an insatiable curiosity that is inspiring to witness. I can’t wait to see what they accomplish next!”
Shasta College’s MESA program continues to provide a launchpad for students aiming for the stars. For more information, visit https://www.shastacollege.edu/mesa.
