Three HCS students trained to serve as STEM student ambassador interns 

Three Hampton City Schools students were selected from almost 70 applicants to participate in a week-long training program and serve as STEM student ambassadors for the National Institute of Aerospace’s Center for Integrative STEM Education (NIA-CISE) during the 2024-2025 school year. Elise Mouton of Phoebus High School, as well as Julia Diggs and Annette Cho of Kecoughtan High School took part in training with NIA educators Dr. Sharon Bowers, Joan Harper-Neely, and Betsy McAllister. Mouton, Diggs, and Cho were among the 11 students selected to serve as interns from GO Virginia Region 5 that includes the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg in addition to the counties of Accomack, Isle of Wight, James City, Northampton, Southampton, and York.

The goals of the STEM Student Ambassador Intern Program are to increase STEM fluency and competency within the region, share career-focused STEM programming that aligns to STEM careers at all ages, and to build an inclusive collaborative community with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a focus.  

The interns attended an introductory webinar on July 9 and received in-depth training at the National Institute of Aerospace from July 15 to July 18. As a part of the experience, the HCS student interns further developed their STEM competency and identity through participation in:

 

• The Aerodynamic Balloon Challenge - Students thought and acted like scientists and engineers as they designed, tested, and re-designed a neutrally buoyant helium balloon system.

• NASA Spotlite Design Challenge – Students worked as a team to create a short video to confront a science misconception.

• An interview with NASA science art director Jenny Mottar who, among many things, designs the annual NASA Earth Day posters.

• Data Collection – students collected and submitted citizen science data through GLOBE (Global Learning to Benefit the Environment).

• Testing…1, 2, 3…Testing: Nondestructive Evaluation – Students learned about nondestructive evaluation and how it is used to ensure the structural integrity of materials and equipment.  Students tested a variety of materials for potential stresses.

• Workplace readiness modules designed specifically for them (professional mindset, dress, communication, and collaboration tools) by the Virginia Tech Work-Based Learning Programs.

On the final day of training, Mouton, Diggs, Cho, and their fellow interns engaged scientists, engineers, and other staff members from the National Institute of Aerospace, Psionic, Pancopia, and others in an activity called Solar Images where they assisted staff in learning more about the sun. STEM student ambassadors will assist in communicating NASA science and introduce STEM careers to a variety of audiences at events such as the 4th Annual STEM Exploration Community Event on October 26, at Brooks Crossing Innovation and Opportunity Center and the May 31 CNU STEM Community Day.

The STEM Student Ambassador Internship Program is made possible by a Coastal Virginia STEM Hub grant from monies made available through the Virginia General Assembly.