Butte College Student Reaches for the Stars with NASA Aerospace Scholars Program

For most students, January means the start of a new semester. For William Her, it meant something more: the beginning of a journey that would take him from his engineering classes at Butte College to the heart of NASA's Ames Research Center. But, after months of hard work and three rigorous missions, William found himself presenting solutions to NASA employees as part of the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) program.

William, a second-year student at Butte College, plans to transfer next fall to complete a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. His top transfer choice is Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Launching His Journey

William's path began with Mission 1, a five-week online course designed to give students a broad view of NASA's work and plans. William completed this first mission in January, diving into live and recorded lectures, interactive projects, and getting educated with NASA's mission directorates.

Leading a Mission to Mars

In the spring, William advanced to Mission 2, a simulated mission to Mars. Working with a team of 12 students, he was chosen to serve as project manager, leading the group through tough trade-offs and time-sensitive decisions. The simulation reflected NASA's workplace culture and structure. Balancing that work with his coursework and midterm exams at Butte College proved challenging.

Final Mission: On Site at Ames Research Center

Only a fraction of NCAS students are invited to Mission 3, a hybrid capstone experience that ends with a week on site at a NASA field center. William was selected and joined other scholars at Ames Research Center in Mountain View this summer.

There, his team tackled a challenge on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)-exploring ways to improve transportation systems using NASA's research. They presented their ideas to a panel of NASA employees, receiving valuable feedback.

The experience went beyond the project. William had the chance to shadow a NASA engineer, attend networking events, and tour research facilities. "The whole experience was rewarding," he said. "The true highlight was getting a glimpse into what my future career could look like through this amazing program."

Reaching Higher

William's participation in NCAS reflects the opportunities available to Butte College students who are ready to take on challenges beyond the classroom. Programs like NCAS show how community college students can connect to national research and career pathways in STEM.

As he prepares for transfer next fall, he said his experience at NCAS made him more certain about choosing a career in mechanical engineering.