The fall cohort combines live online sessions with NASA experts and a submission explaining how a student's existing courses relate to an agency role. NASA says as many as 1,000 submissions will qualify for consideration for a $500 award. The first incentive is therefore attached to finding a concrete connection between studies already under way and possible work. [S1]
Students who finish the cohort successfully will receive an invitation to the spring NCAS career fair, held virtually with experts and industry career opportunities. Completing the fair opens another submission opportunity: NASA describes $250 prizes for as many as 500 top entries. The second stage thus offers a smaller award and a lower ceiling on prize-eligible submissions, attached to exploration beyond the initial coursework exercise. [S1]
Alicia Baturoni Cortez, who manages NASA's Minority University Research and Education Project, describes career awareness as preparation for either employment or further study toward a four-year STEM degree. Viewed against that aim, the two prize stages give students successive reasons to investigate their options: first through their current courses, then through contact with career opportunities. [S1]
Source documents
- NASA Revamps Challenge Linking Community College Studies to Aerospace Careershttps://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/linking-community-college-studies-to-aerospace-careers/