Puerto Rico Student Joins Prestigious NASA Academy at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

GREENBELT, Md., June 15 — Jennifer Carpena, a student from Aibonita, Puerto Rico, will spend the summer of 2007 at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. as a participant in the competitive NASA Academy. Carpena currently attends the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras.

The NASA Academy is a unique residential internship program that targets college juniors and seniors or first year graduate students. Each participant demonstrated interest in space science and the space program in their application.

The Academy aims to develop new leaders for the U.S. Space Program. Each of the participants conducts laboratory research, helps with a group project, attends lectures and completes a presentation accompanied with technical writing. Students gain an understanding about how NASA and the Centers operate and build professional bonds with NASA personnel and fellow interns.

“I am looking forward to the conferences we’ll be participating in very much,” said Carpena. “I hope to gain experience as a date analyst as well as gain confidence as a leader.”

Once students complete the Academy program, they are inducted into the NASA Academy Alumni Association and earn course credits from the University of Maryland, College of Computer, Mathematical and Physical Science.

The ten-week NASA Academy runs now through Aug. 11.

Founded in 1993, the NASA Academy inspires and develops future leaders with a demonstrated commitment to aerospace through a unique, powerful combination of research, leadership development, and relationship building opportunities. Filling an important niche among NASA education programs, the NASA Academy structure complements internship programs that focus more exclusively on research. The NASA Academy experience stimulates sharp young minds at a critical decision-making point in their careers.

With this program, NASA continues the agency’s tradition of investing in the nation’s education programs. It is directly tied to the agency’s major educational goal of strengthening NASA’s and the nation’s future workforce. Through this and the agency’s other college and university programs, NASA will identify and develop the critical skills and capabilities needed to achieve the Vision for Space Exploration.

News media should contact Dewayne Washington (301) 286-0040 of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Public Affairs Office for additional information.

For more info about the Academy go to: http://academy.nasa.gov/