Mississippi Space Grant Consortium

Quaker Hefner

Jour 271

News Story 1

Ole Miss begins its 22^nd year as the lead institution of the Mississippi Space Grant Consortium, an organization to promote a stronger aerospace science effort throughout Mississippi.

The MSSGC is a statewide, NASA affiliated organization that works to strengthen areas of science, technology, mathematics and engineering throughout learning institutes in Mississippi.  Having grown to a network of 16 universities and colleges, the MSSGC is an encouraging and helpful force to students interested in pursuing a career in the scientific field.  The program allows students to further their passion and skill through statewide activities, challenges and very sought after opportunities for placement in a NASA internship or workshop.

Ole Miss project coordinator Margaret Schaff says, “The statewide NASA program internship is very competitive and the most popular among students.  The internships are my favorite part of the job because I see how much the students get out of them.”

Schaff works with 15 other MSSGC campus coordinators to ensure the program’s events and organization continues matching the needs and interests of students.

Expansion and diversity are large parts of the MSSGC mission.  The recruitment of women and underrepresented minority groups is of great importance to both NASA and the MSSGC.  The space grant sets a goal of 40 percent female participation each year and encourages each affiliate to reach it.

“If the goal is not met, there must be a plan devised to work towards achieving it the next year,” said Schaff.

Being an affiliate of NASA, the MSSGC works to spread NASA’s information and prerogatives as well as help out with its research. 

“NASA provides a lot of opportunities to work in their programs,” said Sukanek. 

The MSSGC continues to plan and prepare for upcoming events.  The next one Schaff and program director Dr. Peter Sukanek are looking forward to is the NASA fellowship competition for graduate students.

Twenty-two years is a big achievement for Ole Miss and the MSSGC, but don’t expect the celebrations to commence just yet.  “Twenty-five years and then hopefully a celebration,” said Sukanek.

http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/national/epscor/home/index.html

http://ms.spacegrant.org/