HCC student interns full-time at NASA
Dec 11, 2015
People dream about finding a career they are passionate about. Finding that passion is something most students search for in college.
That’s the case for Houston Community College student Jimmy Lazo. He worked toward a degree in what he thought he loved, but after a several years of working on and off in the graphic design field, his fire for the art faded.
Instead of going through the motions, he signed up for more classes at HCC in search of a career that will keep him fulfilled for the rest of his life. In that process, he found love for electrical engineering and got involved on campus via the HCC S.T.A.R. Squad. Fast-forward a few semesters, and Lazo is a full-time intern for NASA this fall. He is living his dream.
“I encourage other students to explore and take advantage of what HCC has to offer,” Lazo said. “Not only there are a variety of classes to explore, but the professors are also very passionate at what they do.”
Through coincidence or fate, Lazo noticed a poster inviting students to enter a challenge program called NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars while walking in the Stafford Learning Hub. It is an online workshop for community college students interested in STEM programs (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), giving an opportunity for students to chat with professionals and showcase their talents.
NASA then recognized and invited him to do another program called Micro G Next. This unique concept challenges undergraduate students to design, build and test a tool or device that addresses an authentic, current space exploration problem.
Lazo applied for the NASA Student Internship Program and beat out 2,960 other contestants nationwide to earn a four-month paid internship with the most renowned space program in the world, along with 39 other students.
He also volunteers with the HCC S.T.A.R. Squad, an organization designed to educate students about astronomy. As the new president of this organization, his goal is to spark other students’ interest in the cosmos.
“If it wasn’t for HCC, I wouldn’t be here,” Lazo said. “It helped me try different fields and also find out about opportunities at NASA.”
Thanks to HCC, which served as his launchpad, Lazo now more confident than ever to discover his full potential and shoot for the stars.
“I want to be an astronaut, but if it doesn’t happen, working for NASA full time is completely fine with me,” Lazo said.
HCC makes it a lot easier to explore a full spectrum of careers from fine arts to STEM programs. Aside from smaller and more personalized classes, the college also offers low tuition costs in hopes of making it possible for ambitious students like Lazo to find success every step of the way.
For more information about STEM scholarships, internships, student organizations, and other programs HCC offers, please visit hccs.edu/stem