PCC Students Tabbed for NASA Scholars Program

Two Pasadena City College students have been selected for the National Community College Aerospace Scholars program from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Sophomores Angela Kim and Melissa Perez were picked from a pool of nationwide candidates to participate in the NASA program. The accolade will allow the pair to join other community college students at a camp Dec. 3 to 5 at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.

While at JPL, Kim and Perez will be given the opportunity to work on various space exploration projects alongside engineers and scientists.

“I am very proud of both of them,” said Paul Wilkinson, a professor who teaches computer science at PCC. “They are examples of the caliber of students that our computer science program attracts. It also demonstrates that the sciences, especially computer science, should no longer be considered just for men.”

Both students are enrolled in Wilkinson’s CS courses.

“I was pleasantly surprised I got in,” said Kim, a mechanical engineering major, “and the participation in this program means getting a sense of a different field I may not know much about.”

As part of the program experience, students will also be able to work with a NASA mentor-led team to compete in an engineering design challenge.

“Being selected means a lot to me,” said Perez, a computer science major. “Working with any aspect of NASA is my lifelong goal.”

For more information about the National Community College Aerospace Scholars program, please visit https://ncas.aerospacescholars.org