- El Paso Independent School District
- Homepage
NASA Director talks space exploration with Young Women's Academy students
(YOUNG WOMEN'S STEAM RESEARCH & PREPARATORY ACADEMY -- Feb. 19, 2018) — Female scientists, mathematicians and engineers have a bright future in space explorations, NASA Station Director Don Shinners told students here last week during a special visit to EPISD’s only all-girls school.
Shinners, who heads the White Sands Complex in New Mexico spoke to the girls at the Center for Career & Technology Education auditorium. The complex he runs provides global satellite communication for space navigation.
“We want our students to learn about all the possible career pathways available to them,” YWA Principal Dr. Cynthia Ontiveros said. “We talk about their future down the road in STEAM because we believe in them and what they can achieve.”
Shinners emphasized the important of the “A” in STEAM since NASA offers careers in the arts through graphic design and concept illustrator positions.
YWA students were engaged and inquisitive about space exploration and NASA’s role. He was impressed by the questions the students asked after the presentation.
“The students asked a lot of great questions. It is great to see these young minds at work since they are the next generation of space explorers,” he said. “I wanted to show them all the options they have here. That they don’t have to leave the area to pursue a career in STEAM.”
Seventh-grader Kirsten Moran enjoyed the presentation and was encouraged to find out Shinner’s boss was a woman: Susan Chang, Deputy Director of the Network Division Services at NASA.
“I was really proud that there are women in science that are at that level where it’s really tough. That just shows me that women are inspired to do what they want to do,” she said. “The biggest thing I learned today is that I can do anything. I would be interested in working with satellites or even be on a mission to go to Mars.”
Photos by Leonel Monroy