Announcements

Mackenzie Deluliis, who is a 5th year Architecture student at Iowa State University, recently received an award from Stennis Space Center Future Development Concept and Master Planning Support! Because of this award Mackenzie was offered a full-time internship at NASA for the Fall 2021 semester.

Mackenzie will be using this internship as part of her studio work for the semester, and describes this new experience as “a once in a lifetime opportunity”. This experience will be the frame of an independent study that will help build her portfolio and skill set. Mackenzie contacted the NASA Iowa Space Grant Consortium’s Assistant Director for Education, Sara Nelson, and Director of Iowa Space Grant Consortium Tomas Gonzalez-Torres for insights on NASA and how to go about this experience. Gonzalez-Torres, a former NASA intern, NASA Flight Director, and current ISGC Director told Mackenzie “During my time at the University, I held 6 internships with NASA before I graduated. Yes, it delayed my graduation, but the experiences and insight that I gained from the real-world were invaluable toward my continued success in school and after. It also placed me in an excellent position to receive a job offer upon graduation. You don’t need to do 6 internships, but I recommend to all students to delay graduation to get that experience. Graduating a few months later is nothing in the grand scheme of things, but an incredible stepping stone toward your future.”

The ISGC is excited to see another Iowa student working with NASA and encourages all students to consider interning at NASA. The first step can be as easy as getting involved with ISGC and checking out the website page for all NASA and professional field hands-on experience. Go to the ISGC website and look for undergraduates, then scroll down to the internship section for more information and how to apply and get started. The range of internships can be quite diverse, and there are many opportunities for people outside of the math and science world. Students from Iowa universities and colleges including DMACC, Drake University, Iowa State Univesity, Loras College, University of Iowa, and University of Northern Iowa are all eligible for internship assistance and availability.

Congratulations to Mackenzie. We are excited to see how she will grow this semester!

The Iowa Space Grant Consortium, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and Iowa 4-H Youth Development have been awarded a NASA in-flight Education Downlink! On September 27th from 11:10-11:30AM CT, Youth from across Iowa will be asked prerecorded questions to the NASA Astronauts on the International Space Station, Expedition 65. These Astronauts will view the videos in space and then respond live on NASA TV during the virtual event.

For updates and to watch the event, please visit www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/nasa-educational-downlink.

There will also be a watch party available at Iowa State University in the Student Innovation Center, first floor Step-atorium (606 Bissell Rd, Ames, IA 50011)

We hope to see you there and experience this great opportunity!

https://www.iaspacegrant.org/2021/09/09/5955/

Calissa Weers has joined the Iowa Space Grant Consortium in the Department of Aerospace Engineering as the new Communications/PR Intern.

Her duties will include helping run all ISGC social media channels (so keep an eye out for all those posts!), working with updates on the association website, connecting with student alumni and portraying their experiences during their time with ISGC and Iowa State University, and creating graphics to be posted that best represent the Iowa Space Grant Consortium, as well as whatever daily tasks come her way in office.

Calissa is originally from Waukee, Iowa and is a graduate of Waukee High School. She is currently a junior at Iowa State University, studying with a major in Public Relations and a minor in Communication Studies.

Calissa is excited about this position with the Iowa Space Grant Consortium, as it will push her out of her comfort zone and and get her involved in the world of science and math, rather than just reading and writing.