TNLisaDaniellNASA Encounter for White Cloud Students
Have you ever dreamt of meeting a NASA astronaut? Students from our Project FOCUS site at White Cloud Jr. High got to do just that!
After spending the school year working on projects and meeting virtually with aerospace engineers, their time culminated with a showcase at Michigan State University. Here they toured the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, the Abrams Planetarium and visited with NASA personnel, all while showing off their design challenge solutions. This showcase featured Project FOCUS’ White Cloud students along with 10 other schools where nearly 200 students came together for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“I didn’t realize that MSU had one of the world’s largest Isotope Beams and that this was an engineering job; this changes my focus in engineering.” -Bryant Kuiper, White Cloud Project FOCUS student
Our dedicated students were actively engaged in collaborative teams, tackling real-world engineering design challenges with invaluable support and mentorship from experienced NASA staff, which all made for a truly unique experience.
“We had a lot of design flaws, but that didn’t stop us from figuring it out.” -Lyllian C. White Cloud Project FOCUS student
Their virtual meetings varied, but one such meeting included Casey Leigh-Anne Denham, a NASA aerospace engineer specializing in Advanced Air Mobility. Her expertise spans designing cutting-edge aircraft, including sky taxis and electric vehicles, and how they can operate safely in our airspace.
“I didn’t realize just how many jobs there were at NASA.” – Lexi Barrett, White Cloud Project FOCUS student
“I’m confident we are witnessing the emergence of our future engineers. I couldn’t be prouder of how they represented themselves, our program and their school.” –Mandi Krbez, White Cloud Jr. High Project FOCUS Site Coordinator
This opportunity was all in thanks to a grant awarded by Michigan Department of Education in partnership with the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, and the United States Department of Education. What an amazing program to showcase STEM experiences!