A Rock Valley College student has been selected  to travel to NASA's Johnson Space Center as part of the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars project (NCAS).

Chandra Lopez will be in Houston, Tex., from May 20 to 22 as the five-week scholars program ends with an on-site event offering students the opportunity to interact with NASA engineers as they learn more about careers in science and engineering. While there, students form teams and establish fictional companies interested in Mars exploration.

According to a press release, Lopez is one of only of 240 community college students from across the country and one of only three from Illinois to be part of NCAS. She's a married mother of two and graduate of Guilford High School. Lopez says she's excited about the possibilities that lie ahead:

"People dream about this, but never get this opportunity or even know about it. To be a part of the future of space exploration is very exciting.  It's the coolest thing in the world."

 

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