![]() For the past three semesters, Rivera has been an intern at KSC. Football player maybe, but engineer, nah.” I’ve got long hair, tattoos and I’m a big guy. “I don’t look like an engineer,” he says. He’s been doing it his entire life, but he especially gets a kick out of it these days. Ongoing internship: Launch Services Program, Dynamic EnvironmentsĪdolfo Alvarado Rivera takes pride in surprising people. Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Physics ![]() “I guess it does show that no dream is impossible as long as you work hard.” “I am super excited, relieved, thankful and lots of emotions, really,” Bassil says. It is imperative that we continue to push the boundaries of our scientific limits so we can embrace the unknown while contributing to the advancement of mankind.”īassil starts her full-time job as part of the Safety and Mission Assurance Office for the Commercial Crew Program later this month. “Had we not dared to explore our solar system, we wouldn’t have a lot of the technology we use today such as geolocation devices and infrared lights. “Being a part of the commercial crew program has demonstrated that we cannot progress as a society without taking risks and exploring the unknown,” she says. Her experience at KSC only reinforced her decision. There is just something about space and the endless possibilities, she says. The 23-year-old always knew she wanted to work in the space industry. Working with people at KSC, who will now be my co-workers, it’s one of the biggest benefits of the internships.” I still have a lot to learn, but I think that was really helpful. And understand the importance of documentation management and traceability at both the center and agency level. “Through the internship, I was able to develop my soft skills. “He’s been an amazing mentor and introduced me to a lot of people,” Bassil says. ![]() Bassil met him during her second year at UCF. One of those people was NASA engineer and UCF graduate faculty member Felix Soto Toro. And people, they will help you if they see your potential and your commitment.” There were a lot of social things I missed, but it is so worth it. “Nothing in this world is handed to you and that’s why I’ve worked so hard. “Success necessitates sacrifice,” Bassil says. For example, Career Services helped her prepare her first resume and ran her through mock interviews ahead of the big one with NASA. At UCF she took demanding classes, joined clubs, and made sure to take advantage of the many services the university provides to help students prepare for the workforce. That meant automatic entry to UCF to pursue her engineering degree once she earned her associate degree. These words drove Bassil to excel in math and science at Olympia High School and then at Valencia College, where she enrolled as part of the DirectConnect to UCF program. “My mother would always say, education is something no one can take from you,” Bassil says. Her parents, immigrants who fled Lebanon’s civil war in the 1980s, have always emphasized higher education to their children. Margarita Bassil, a New Jersey native, grew up hearing that education would be her ticket to a better life. Starts her job as part of Support Safety and Mission Assurance Office for the Commercial Crew Program at KSC later this month. To highlight this amazing opportunity, we share the story of three individuals who have followed different roads to UCF and how they are working to make their space-related careers a reality. NASA and commercial companies often hire graduates who have successfully completed the NASA program because of their combined academic knowledge and practical experience. About 30 percent of KSC employees have UCF degrees. Part of the university’s original charter was to support the needs of the space program, which means unique opportunities for our students and faculty.įrom research - which may lead to growing food on Mars, to preparing the next generation workforce to prep payloads and design launch vehicles - UCF plays an important role in the industry. The university was born around the start of the space race and is just 50 miles from KSC. UCF’s big numbers are no surprise given UCF’s roots. The highly competitive program draws up to thousands of applicants each semester for 15-35 slots at KSC, according to Pathways Coordinator Mai Miller. The students get the experience and are paid. The program gives qualifying university students an opportunity to work at the space agency, where every semester UCF has students working in everything from engineering to accounting. For 19 UCF students, the dream of working for NASA came true this past semester as they completed internships at Kennedy Space Center through NASA’s Pathways Program.
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