NASA Revamps Community College Aerospace Scholars Challenge to Launch STEM Careers

Community college students across the nation now have an enhanced pathway to discover how their academic journeys can lead to exciting, cutting-edge careers at the intersection of aerospace, science, engineering, and technology. The newly updated NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) student challenge invites participants to deepen their understanding of the agency and its missions, connect directly with NASA experts, and explore rewarding aerospace careers while competing for monetary awards.

The application period is now open. The deadline for registration is Monday, Sept. 28.

“What makes this opportunity truly unique is that it is one of the few programs specifically tailored for community college students,” said Alicia Baturoni Cortez, project manager for NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project, which administers NCAS. “The NCAS student challenge is designed to align with their needs and broaden their career awareness, empowering them to enter the workforce immediately or expand their academic goals to include a four-year degree in STEM.”

For NASA interns Kim Alexander and Ashley Rodriguez, the NCAS program became an unexpected springboard, launching them from community college studies into promising new careers.

After spending eight years as a bartender, Alexander sought a fresh start for her career. She enrolled at Riverside Community College in Riverside, California, initially intending to pursue graphic design, but quickly discovered a passion for mathematics instead. Alexander joined NCAS hoping it would bolster her resume and strengthen her university transfer application. Instead, she found herself on a winning team tasked with designing a human mission to Mars—an experience that fundamentally shaped her career trajectory.

“I was completely overwhelmed by how amazing the program was,” Alexander recalled, noting that she went on to participate in various other NASA student opportunities. “But NCAS was the most monumental, because it really made me start thinking, ‘Hey, I could pursue a career in this. This is feasible.’”

Rodriguez grew up in South Florida watching space shuttle launches, yet she never envisioned a career at NASA. Instead, she gained diverse professional experience and was raising a toddler by the time she returned to school at Miami-Dade Community College to pursue an IT degree. It was there that she first learned about NCAS, a program that ultimately set her on a path toward a fulfilling career in strategic communications.

Ashley Rodriguez

NASA Intern

The experience illuminated the critical role of strategic communications within NASA and helped Rodriguez discover a professional field she genuinely enjoys.

In January 2024, Rodriguez and Alexander began NCAS-funded NASA internships within the agency’s Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities Portfolio Office, where they met their mentor, Erik Lopez, the Data and Analytics Manager.

Today, both women have earned university degrees and have launched into NASA Pathways internships, which could lead directly to full-time NASA employment. Rodriguez is serving as a strategic communications intern in the Engineering Performance Management Office at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, while Alexander is embarking on an engineering role supporting the Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities Project at the agency’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.

“They were the first two NCAS alumni interns; they literally onboarded together,” Lopez shared. “And the fact that they are now both returning to the agency as Pathways interns brings me immense joy.”

Stories like those of Alexander and Rodriguez highlight the profound impact NCAS can have, underscoring why the program’s updated mission aims to reach even more community college students.

This academic year, NCAS is launching with an expanded, two-part mission. The cohort phase, running through the fall, calls on students to participate in live virtual experiences with NASA experts and submit materials that draw a direct connection between their current coursework and potential roles at NASA. Faculty members play a vital role in encouraging students who might not previously envision themselves in a NASA career. Up to 1,000 submissions will be eligible for a $500 award.

Those who successfully complete this phase will be invited to participate in the next phase: a spring virtual NCAS career fair connecting them with experts and industry career opportunities. Upon completing the career fair, students may submit additional materials for prizes of $250, with up to 500 of the top submissions being eligible.

Alicia Baturoni Cortez

Project Manager, NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project

To explore NCAS timelines, eligibility requirements, and application details, visit:

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