How three UCF engineering students are spending their summer

 

POSTED ON Jul 20, 2021

 

Last month, the University of Central Florida (UCF) featured engineering students doing internships at the Kennedy Space Center through NASA’s Pathways Program. (Photo credit: NASA/Frank Michaux).

According to UCF News, part of the university’s charter is to support the needs of the space program, which means unique opportunities for UCF students and faculty. About 30 percent of Kennedy Space Center (KSC) employees have UCF degrees.

The NASA Pathways Programs provide opportunities for students and recent graduates to be considered for federal employment through the NASA Pathways Intern Employment Program, Recent Graduates Program, and the Presidential Management Fellows Program. Click here to apply.

Every semester, UCF has students working in everything from engineering to accounting. The students get the experience and are paid. The UCF article written by Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala showcases Margarita Bassil, Adolfo Alvarado Rivera, and Jaden Chambers.

This June, Bassil started a full-time job as part of the Safety and Mission Assurance Office for the Commercial Crew Program.

Rivera is a U.S. Coast Guard veteran. The mechanical engineering major is expected to graduate in 2022. To date, he has interned at KSC for three semesters and is part of a team that uses different tools to analyze the vibrations caused by space vehicles when they take off. The data gathered is used to paint a picture of how vibration frequencies can impact the sensitive instruments on board.

Chambers started his first KSC internship in January. In addition to being a full-time student, he works at KSC’s Construction of Facilities Branch. The job involves design reviews, site inspections, and a variety of ongoing projects.

Click “19 UCF Students Living the Dream, Working at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center” to read more about these trailblazing UCF students.