No matter the age – college, high school, grade school – the NSROC Team is dedicated to providing hands on education and experience to America 's next generation of Aerospace Engineers and scientists.
The NSROC Intern Program : Founded in 1999, the NSROC Intern Program has hosted more than 50 students from the University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Penn State , Clemson, the University of Alaska, Rochester Institute of Technology, Bucknell, and Utah State. Under the guidance of experienced Electrical, Mechanical, Vehicle Systems, and ACS/GNC Engineers, students are given meaningful work that relates directly to their major fields of study. Where else can a student design a component, see it manufactured to |
spec in the Machine Shop, walk it through QA, assist with its integration during the merger of rocket and payload systems, and see it tested and launched? In the photo on the left, NSROC's first two interns, Sarah Armstrong and Jeff Dawson, tweak the wiring assembly of a UVA payload. A photo of UVA's |
The NSROC Co-op Program : Due to the popularity of the Intern Program, NSROC expanded its outreach efforts to include a Co-op Program in 2004. This program requires strict coordination with instructors and campus administrators to ensure that the work done by the students is well-aligned with their academic goals. Depending on the campus, credits may or may not apply; at minimum, the work experience is included on the student's transcript.
Most Co-ops piggyback a semester with a summer; and most students return the following summer, giving them a full year of solid, hands-on experience before they ever enter the employment market as graduates. Those with high GPAs invariably retain them; those with average grades invariably improve them!
Student-to-Student Outreach : NSROC Co-ops and Interns have |
provided sounding rocket presentations for Accomack's Middle Schools, hosted tours for students, parents and community groups, and supported NASA's "Enrich the Next Generation" initiative. In thephoto on the left, Jason Reese (Virginia Tech) and Andy Owens (Clemson) assist a future engineer in adding "just the right amount" of water to his |
This year, NSROC CO-ops and NASA Engineers assisted local high school students their entry in the International FIRST Robotics Competition. This was a "first ever" experience for the students from Arcadia and Nothampton High Schools here on the Eastern Shore. Building and operating the Big Blue Bot was fun, exciting and, most important, it convinced the students they really could do anything they put their minds to! Closing the generation gap brings the prospect of being a NASA Engineer (or an Astronaut!) a little closer to reality for the average grade, middle or high school sudent. For a short video of Arcadia's entry in action, click here.
Community Outreach: NSROC and NASA Engineers frequently host tours, judge Science Fairs, attend Career Days, and address schools, scout troops, and community organizations. NSROC has also established an intern program for the local Eastern Shore Community College; the program has been key to providing students the incentive to continue their education and to achieve higher personal and academic goals.