Shooting for the Stars

DMACC aerospace engineering student Carly Rice has lofty goals. So lofty, in fact, that they may one day take her out of this world.

"I'm learning about how we're going to get to Mars, how we're going to be build there and how we're going to make it sustainable," she says. Her career goal is to become an aerospace engineer and make today's interplanetary dreams a reality. "Every day there is something new and it is exciting to learn about."

Carly graduated from Simpson College in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. After working in the field for a year, she decided it wasn't a great fit for her, so she began researching options on going back to school. DMACC's engineering program looked to be a great choice, and with a little help from NASA, she jumped in during the Summer 2017 semester.

"I really wanted to do something to impact the environment and this seemed like a great opportunity," she says. "I applied for a NASA scholarship and through that was selected to participate in the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program. I really wish I would have chosen this right out of high school."

Even with the backing of NASA, Carly says she still relies on support from the DMACC Foundation.

"I'm working full-time in addition to taking classes, just to make ends meet," she says. "This wouldn't be possible without the scholarships I receive. I am very thankful for that support."