41st Annual Goddard Memorial Symposium Hits the Mark - cont'd

	Student session panel members, (from Lft) Orlando Figueroa NASA Headquarters, Melissa Fleck Goddard, Joe Fuller and Jon Malay speak with undergraduate and graduate students on NASA careers.

For the first time, the symposium incorporated a special student session on day two, which was moderated by University Programs Director Vic Teplitz of Goddard. Seventy-four undergraduate and graduate engineering students from local universities arrived in time to catch the fourth technical session, chaired by NASA's Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Science Chris Scolese. The students listened to panel members Orlando Figueroa, Melissa Fleck, Joe Fuller and Jon Malay talk about job opportunities with NASA and contractors who support NASA's work. A breakout question and answer session followed with small student groups interacting with the panel.

GMS Program Committee Chair Mike Calabrese, American Astronautical Director Jim Kirkpatrick, Center Director Al Diaz and Deputy Director Bill Townsend. Photo Credit: Chris Gunn/293

"We demonstrated our flexibility and resourcefulness in developing this year's first student program while preserving our theme," said the Symposium Program Committee Chair Mike Calabrese. "I believe we had a great symposium with excellent attendance, including student participation, presentations and networking."

With the success of this first student session, the planning committee intends to involve even more engineering and science students from area universities in next year's symposium, inspiring the next generation of explorers…as only NASA can.